Joshua 8:9-17 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Joshua 8:9-17. Let’s go!
Joshua 8:9-17 (NIV)
9 Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai–but Joshua spent that night with the people.
10 Early the next morning Joshua mustered his men, and he and the leaders of Israel marched before them to Ai.
11 The entire force that was with him marched up and approached the city and arrived in front of it. They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city.
12 Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
13 They had the soldiers take up their positions–all those in the camp to the north of the city and the ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley.
14 When the king of Ai saw this, he and all the men of the city hurried out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle at a certain place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set against him behind the city.
15 Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the desert.
16 All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city.
17 Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.
On verses 9-17: When the king of Ai saw that Joshua had stationed troops in front of the city, he hurried to meet them for battle (v14). Then when Joshua’s men began to retreat (v15), King Ai told all his men to pursue them (v16), thus leaving the city of Ai open and vulnerable to attack from behind (v17). Because the king of Ai was in a hurry, he made a rushed decision that exposed his city to attack. Like a quarterback in football who gets sacked from behind, King Ai didn’t watch his back, and thus he didn’t see ambushers coming (v14).
What can we learn from this? When deciding how to use your resources, don’t be in such a hurry to get something done that you expose yourself to unnecessary risks and avoidable attacks. When making a decision that requires the use of valuable resources, thoughtfully consider all risks and possibilities before deciding which way to go.
Heavenly Father, I pray that I would give thought to all my ways, that I would not expose myself and others to avoidable attacks through careless decision making. Thank You that the wisdom I need comes from You. I ask You for that wisdom today. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
