Recapture

JOSHUA 8: RECAPTURE

Joshua 8: The Conquest of Ai 1 “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.”

Outline:

1) LISTEN TO THE COACH:

2) LORD ENCOURAGES US

3) GATHER THE PEOPLE

4) GOD REMINDS US OF PAST VICTORIES

5) LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

6) ATTACK THE ENEMY SECRETLY/ STAY UNDETECTED:

INTRODUCTION:

Sometimes due to a wrong marriage, disobedience and unwise decisions, imprudent business dealings, impulsive relocation to a foreign country- many such things can take you to utter chaos and destruction; however, God does not leave you there to rot, He wants to connect with you, help you join the dots between where you are and where you have to be and help you along the way. Listen to the coach!

Only when you go round and round the Mighty God, would you know His character, His heart and His enduring Love. Without knowing the background of chapter 7, you can never appreciate the great victory that you read in chapter 8. Because of the sin of one man Achan, the entire nation was shattered and in shambles, though it was only Achan who was involved in the theft, but the Lord said “Israel has sinned”. God was angry! Joshua prostrated on the floor and he cried, asking God for reasons. Lord looked at Joshua and said:” Joshua 7:1 "Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?” God was unable to be quiet after seeing the broken –prostrated prayers of Joshua. Psalm 34:18”The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Some sit in a rocking chair, with a coffee mug, shake their legs and pray, despite their life in a mess. They even dare to ask” why is God not answering my prayers?” Let your prayers not be sloppy, pray with assurance that God is hearing every word, are you listening? When things don’t go right, you tend to swing the pendulum the other way, all the yo-yoing does not last long, immeasurable happiness and joy in the Lord, do not come from ‘sporadic’ prayer life - running to God only during time of emergencies - but being consistent, committed and loyal in your walk with God will go a long way. The Lord answered Joshua and gave the reason for failure, He said: 12 "Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.” Destroy the evil things and set right your life before you point fingers at God:

• Some of you need to change even your profession which might not be right in the eyes of God. If you are dealing with unrighteous dealings or business, right now ‘stop’ before further damage.

• If you are living with another man’s wife, STOP right now and change your direction.

• Join a local church and be connected with the Body of Christ, don’t be attending online services

• Give your offerings to God

“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” Proverbs 12:15

Each of us should memorize these scriptures in order to understand about our God:

Exodus 34: 6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." Did you hear that? So, be careful about your life!

I would like to sum up this devotion- God looked at Joshua and said “ you suffer because you have sinned so ARISE NOW , set right your life according to my commandments!

Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

2) LORD ENCOURAGES US:

1. The Lord encourages them in verse 1

Joshua 8:1-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.”

Leader Joshua was devastated, the people of Israel who had tasted victory in Jericho and the crossing of Jordan, now had to cover their faces due to the great defeat in Ai. 36 soldiers were lost; nevertheless, God revealed in this chapter that you can arise from the ash heap. Hallelujah!