Joshua
8:1-2 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and
do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai.
See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and
his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its
king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for
yourselves.
The story of Joshua is reflected in the New Testament
picture of Jesus in Gethsemane and at Golgotha. Here Jesus declared his deepest
feelings and even his sense of being forsaken by our heavenly Father. We know
that the story ends with victory, but only after he faced Calvary. Even the
disciples did not fully understand how things would conclude. They were swayed
by their emotions and personal interpretation of Jesus’ mission.
In fear, Joshua and the
people destroyed Achan and all who were corrupted by his sin. They knew the
past faithfulness of God but only hoped that God would respond favorably in the
future now that Achan was destroyed. They were now faced with a new command
from God to advance on another enemy stronghold. The memory of Achan and
Jericho were equally fresh in their minds. Would they be successful or would
they be routed again?
From sin to redemption,
Joshua experienced the full spectrum of man’s relationship to God. Living in
the divine presence is a learned practice. Living in His presence is also a
gift for the covenant people alone. Those who persist in their sinfulness and
self-centered world-view will never truly see or experience the divine
presence.
God’s people learn that His
divine presence is both demanding and promising. We learn how to react
appropriately to punishment as well as blessing from God. Valuing His presence
over material possessions is a mark of the child of God. In the end, we need to
learn that the acts of man are only temporary and that the acts of God bring
results that last for the remaining days of our life and for eternity.
