Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 8:1-9.
“Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it.”
So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night. He commanded them, saying, “See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready. Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them. They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ So we will flee before them. And you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. Then it will be when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do it according to the word of the LORD. See, I have commanded you.” So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.” Joshua 8:1-9.
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“8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.” Psalm 103:8-9.
“2 You forgave the iniquity of Your people;
You covered all their sin. Selah.
3 You withdrew all Your fury;
You turned away from Your burning anger.” Psalm 85:2-3.
“Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.” Psalm 85:9.
God did not keep His anger forever against Israel in today’s Scripture. God was compassionate and gracious to Israel in today’s Scripture.
We remember the anger of the LORD against Israel in the prior chapter. “But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel.” Joshua 7:1.
We remember the punishment of the LORD. “The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.” Joshua 7:5.
The LORD could have at least let Israel lick its wounds and be miserable for a little longer.
The LORD could have at least let Israel look around and fear its enemies for a little longer.
Even if the LORD wanted to lead Israel over their enemies again, the LORD could have at least next led Israel to victory over one of its other enemies.
But no. So very quickly, the LORD comforted Israel and gave Israel peace and guided Israel to fight Ai again. So very quickly, God gave victory to Israel over Ai. “Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.” Verse 1.
And, the LORD even used a strategy gained from Israel’s defeat at Ai to give Israel victory in order to set up an ambush: “… for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ So we will flee before them.” Verse 6.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 