Try Again!

The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the whole military force with you and go and attack Ai. Look I have handed over to you the king of Ai, his people, city and land. Treat Ai and its king as you did Jericho and its king; you may plunder its spoil and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city." Joshua 8:1,2

A previous attempt to take Ai was defeated because there was sin in the camp. Now that the sin was dealt with and the people were back trusting the Lord, success was given. Two things went wrong the first time the Israelites tried to take Ai, there was hidden sin and arrogant pride in the people.

The success at taking Jericho had filled the people with a pride in their own ability to take Ai, even though God was the one who took down the walls of Jericho. More than that one of the men took what they were told not to take and this caused blessing to be lost.

We can become so enamoured with our own ability and race on our own strength to find we hit a wall or an experience which shakes us. The Israelites were so shaken at the defeat at Ai they began to wonder if they were in the right place. It totally took away their vision and the fact that God had promised them this land, opened the flooded river and brought down the walls of Jericho.

A set back is just a set back. It gives us time to reflect. Did I do something wrong this time? Probably yes. Fix it and try again. Amen! Don't back away from the path ahead. Keep close to God!

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