Joshua 8:1 - Meaning and Application

Israel was glad to have such a commander as Joshua, but Joshua was even more glad to have God himself as his guide. When trouble came, he did not need to call together a war council, because God was so near to him that he answered Joshua, and even knew his questions before he asked them. Joshua seems to have been at a loss here. He had hardly recovered from the trouble Achan had caused, and he may have feared to move ahead lest there be another Achan in the camp. Then God spoke to him, either by a vision, as before (Jos 5:1-15), or through the breastplate of judgment.

This is worth noting: when we have truly put away sin, that cursed thing that separates us from God, then, and only then, we may expect to hear from him with comfort. God’s guidance for our Christian work and spiritual battle is a good sign that he is at peace with us. Here we see, first, the encouragement God gave Joshua to go forward: “Fear not, neither be thou dismayed” (Jos 8:1). These words show that Achan’s sin, and what came from it, had deeply discouraged Joshua and nearly broken his heart. Corrupt sins inside the church weaken its leaders and helpers more than attacks from outside. Treacherous Israelites are more dangerous than hostile Canaanites.

But God tells Joshua not to lose heart. The same power that keeps Israel from being destroyed by their enemies will keep them from destroying themselves. To strengthen him, God assures him of victory over Ai and says it is already his own. Yet Joshua must receive it as God’s gift: “I have given it into your hand,” which gave him both the right and the possession, and also bound him to give God the glory for both (Psa 44:3). God also lets the people take the spoil for themselves. This spoil was not set apart for God as Jericho’s spoil was, so there was no danger of another offense like the one at Jericho.

See how Achan, who reached for forbidden spoil, lost that spoil, his life, and everything else. But the rest of the people, who had carefully kept away from the cursed thing, were soon rewarded for their obedience with the spoil of Ai. The way to enjoy what God permits is to keep away from what he forbids. No one will lose by self-denial. Give God his due first, and then all things will be clean and secure for us (Kg1 17:13). God did not bring them to these fine cities and houses full of good things just to let them look at what they could not touch. He had taken the firstfruits from Jericho, and now they could take the spoil of Ai, and of all the cities that would afterward come into their hands.

Second, God gave Joshua directions for attacking Ai. This was not to be a long work like the taking of Jericho, because that would have stretched the war out too much. Those who had waited patiently seven days for Jericho would have Ai in one day. Nor was Ai to be taken by a miracle, by God acting alone. Now their own planning and courage were to be used. After seeing God work for them, they were now to put themselves to work. God told Joshua, first, to take all the people, so that all might watch the battle and share in the spoil. In this, God quietly rebuked him for sending such a small force against Ai before (Jos 7:4).

God also told him to set an ambush behind the city. Joshua may not have thought of this then if God had not directed him. And though we should not now expect direction by visions, voices, or oracles, yet when public leaders use wise plans for the good of all, we must recognize God’s hand in it. He who teaches the farmer good judgment surely teaches statesmen and generals too.