READ JOSHUA 8
GO DEEPER
The initial two verses of Joshua 8 are distinctly different from the opening verse of Joshua 7.
“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged…for I have delivered into your hands the (victory)…carry off the plunder for yourselves.” (Joshua 8:1-2 summarized). "But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: . . . and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel." (Joshua 7:1).
In the story of Achan's sin at Jericho and the subsequent victory over Ai by Israel, we see that where sin was prevalent, grace was even more abundant. The type of grace and mercy shown in these events is incomprehensible to us, but it is still accessible to us today. This kind of generosity and forgiveness exceeds our understanding, yet it remains a constant gift for us. His mercies are fresh every day.
In our society, we believe that our history of wrongdoing and self-centeredness, in contrast to our history of following rules and staying loyal, affects whether God will choose to bless or punish us. We think that our mistakes cause God to be cautious in how He rewards us in the future, as if God can be predicted like a mathematical equation or controlled by us. However, God has the ultimate authority to decide and act according to His own will. Similar to the various strategies that God employed for military victories in the book of Joshua, we cannot presume to understand His intentions in every situation, including His kindness and mercy towards sinners like us.
God responds to Israel's misuse of grace and their act of repentance with even more grace. Following their repentance, God not only continues to be generous toward them but also grants them victory and rewards. The regret lies in Achan's lack of faith and patience in waiting for God's plan to unfold, making his greed appear senseless in hindsight.
We often must learn how to rise again and re-engage after encountering failure. God is not disheartened or saddened by the failures of the Israelites or our own. Our mistakes do not exceed God's capacity to forgive and restore. Failure can be a stepping stone towards achieving great success. Therefore, we should take heart. When we seek satisfaction and fulfillment outside of God's will, we should repent. And when we experience victory, we should heed the lesson from the Israelites and let it serve as a reminder of God's promise of eternal life through Jesus.
QUESTIONS
1. What insights do you gain about God's character from this passage?
2. How do you view your mistakes and God's mercy? What do you understand about God's forgiveness and our errors from this passage?
3. What lessons can you derive from the Israelites' reaction following their triumph?