26th.: A Second Lesson from Ai
Sometimes, we can learn multiple lessons from someone.
To repeat Joshua’s main complaint,
“Alas, O Lord God, wherefore have you at all brought this people over Jordan,
to deliver us into the hands of the Amorite, to destroy us?
Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of Jordan?” (Josh. 7:7).
With one defeat, Joshua was ready to quit.
Repeating the ‘forgots’, from yesterday:
Joshua forgot the miraculous defeat of Jericho.
Joshua forgot how that the city of Jericho was to be totally devoted to
the Lord, and anyone, who took any item from Jericho, would be accursed (Josh. 6:18).
Joshua forgot that God promised several times to give to the Jewish people Palestine.
Joshua forgot that the generation that came out of Egypt constantly
complained about God’s lack of provision, despite God’s repeated
supernatural demonstrations of protection and provision.
Joshua was right to approach God.
However, Joshua should have been more circumspect.
Fortunately, God was patient with Joshua.
When Joshua finished belly-aching, God got down to business.
“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God.
For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few.” (Eccl. 5:2)