Turn Defeat Into Victory By Waiting On The Lord And keeping His Way

Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it - Psalm 37:34. 

               Israelites who were defeated for the first time at Ai got victory second time as they waited on the Lord and Kept His way by following His instructions.But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint - Isaiah 40:31. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord. - Psalm 27:14.

The hearts of the people melted and became like water 

The hearts of the people of Israelites melted and became like water when they faced defeat first time at Ai. 

And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water - Joshua 7:5.

God promised victory

Israelites were hesitant to go up against Ai second time as they had been defeated first time. But God encouraged Joshua to not be afraid and dwell in the defeat and promised victory.

Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor 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. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king" - Joshua 8:1,2.

God gave instructions for carrying out the attack

To take all the people of war to Ai 

Take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai - Joshua 8:1.

To do to Ai and its king as they did to Jericho and its king, except that they may carry off their plunder and livestock

Do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves - Joshua 8:2.

To set an ambush behind the city

Lay an ambush for the city behind it - Joshua 8:2.

To stretch out the spear toward Ai

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand" - Joshua 8:18. 

Israelites did everything as God instructed & got victory

And all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near; and they came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai - Joshua 8:11. 

As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire - Joshua 8:19.

For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai - Joshua 8:26. 

Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as booty for themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had commanded - Joshua 8:27.

So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day - Joshua 8:28. 

Worship after destroying Ai

The Israelites gave God the glory and praise for the victory. 

Now Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings - Joshua 8:30,31.

                                                                                           

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us turn our defeat into victory by waiting on You, keeping Your way and by following Your instructions. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.