Joshua 8 (7)

Read Joshua 8.

Reflect.
1.  What are the main differences between Israel’s victory at Jericho and their victory at Ai? What can we learn from these differences?

2.  How would you assess Joshua’s leadership of Israel in this chapter? What did he do well? Where might he have improved? 

Think about it.
We are inclined to see Joshua 8 as a course correction for Israel, a return to God’s favor and a portent of good things to come. And it is that. God gave Israel an important victory, thus demonstrating that His anger had been removed from them and now they could expect Him to be with them for the rest of their campaign.

But the last part of this chapter troubles me. What Joshua led the people to do in reaffirming their covenant relationship with God should have been done immediately upon crossing the Jordan. Now we are at least two weeks beyond that event, and Joshua finally gets around to what they should have done on day 1. 

We might say, “Well, at least he did it.” And yes, he did. But I can’t help but wonder, had Israel accomplished those offerings and participated in visual and verbal display of the Law – including the blessings and curses – whether the trouble at Jericho, leading to the trouble at Ai, might have been averted. Joshua is a great leader, but he’s not a perfect leader, as we shall see again.

In many respects, what we see in the book of Joshua is typical of what we will see throughout the Old Testament. Israel is given great but flawed leaders, so that, while progress is made in realizing the fullness of God’s covenant, it’s not what God expects, and it ends up in a broken and failed covenant on Israel’s part.

All of which left the faithful in Israel – and leaves us – longing for a better covenant, a perfect Leader, and power beyond what we possess in our own souls to help us in realizing the precious and very great promises of God. Precisely as God intended.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  What do we learn from Joshua 8 about obeying God’s Word?

2.  From what we’ve seen thus far, how can the book of Joshua help us as a local church in striving for the promises of God?

3.  What are we learning from Joshua about the power of sin, and how we should regard sin in our lives?

“I therefore think that by the term Law only its substance and sanctions are denoted. This made it palpable even to strangers entering the land what God was worshipped in it, and all excuse for error was taken away, when the Law was not treasured up in a book, but made manifest to the eyes of all.” John Calvin,Commentary on Joshua (1509-1564 AD)

I know that Your commandments are holy and righteous and good, O Lord; help me to treasure them in my heart, so that…

Pray Psalm 19.7-14.
As you pray, ask the Lord to give you greater love for His Law and all His Word, and to guide you daily in faith and obedience.

Psalm 19.7-14 (St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure. 
The simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure. 
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts; 
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts. 

The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last. 
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast. 
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet; 
be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete. 

Who, Lord, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me! 
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be. 
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight 
Be pleasing to You, gracious Lord, acceptable and right!

T. M. Moore

The seven lessons in this week’s study in the book of Joshua, and all previous weeks, are available as free downloads by clicking here.

Where does the book of Joshua fit in the ongoing story of God’s covenant? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you discover the place in God’s work of redemption not only of Joshua but of all the books of the Bible. God’s Covenant is a valuable resource to guide you in all your studies in God’s Word. To order your copy, click here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).