Joshua 10:16

Joshua 10:16 says, But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.  The five kings fled, leaving their people  behind.  Verse seventeen states,, And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.  Joshua was told where the five kings were hiding.  Those who oppose God will ultimately wish for a place to hide, but there will be none.  Verse eighteen says, And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:  Joshua simply had stones rolled in front of the cave to block the kings in.  We can equate that to our sins blocking us in and away from the will of God.  God does not force us to come to Him, but He allows us to be trapped by our own sinfulness until we accept forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse nineteen adds, And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.  Joshua told the people to not worry about the kings but to continue pursue the enemy.  Once we have one sin under control, as the five kings were, we need to continue to pursue the others that we may defeat them also.  Verse twenty declares, And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.  Joshua and the people of Israel defeated the rest of the enemy, because as Joshua had told them, God had given them the victory already.  When we are following God's guidance, we already have assurance of total victory spiritually, by His power.  We cannot have total victory by our own power, but must rely on the power and leadership of God.  Verse twenty-one adds, And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.  The people of Israel returned to Joshua at their camp at peace, with no one speaking against them.  We will never reach this state in the world today, but when Christ returns we will, and that will be a wonderful day.  Verse twenty-two  declares, Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.  Joshua told the people that it was time to let the kings out of the cave.  They had thought that they would be safe there, but the cave basically became more of a tomb.  People today may feel that they are safe in their place where they hide from God, but they are really just sealing their own doom.  Verse twenty-three states, And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.  Then verse twenty-four adds, And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.  The captains of the men of Israel were told to put their feet on the necks of the kings.  One day, all those who refuse to accept Christ as Savior and Lord will be figuratively trampled under the foot of God.  Their actual fate will be much worse, as they will be separated from God forever.  Verse twenty-five declares, And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.  Just as Joshua told the people of Israel, we do not need to be afraid, because God has already given us the victory over sin and death.  Verse twenty-six states,  And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.  The five kings were slain and hanged on trees for the rest of the day.  This was done to show other people who might come against Israel what the outcome would be.  Sin and death were defeated when Christ hung on the cross, but He came down to live forever, so that we might also if we put our faith in Him.  Unlike the kings, Jesus came down in victory.   Verse twenty-seven concludes, And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.  When the sun went down, the bodies of the five kings were returned to the cave and sealed in.  That is where they remained.  When the enemies of Jesus attempted to seal Him in a tomb, they failed.  He did not remain there, and if we put our faith in Him, we will not remain in a tomb of spiritual death, but we will live forever with Christ.  The choice wll always be ours.

Joshua 10:9

Joshua 10:9 says, Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.  Joshua went by night tis time.  We should be ready to go when God leads us, whether it is by day or by night.  Verse ten declares,  And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.  Joshua did not defeat those who came against him, but God did.  We today as followers of Christ must rely on the strength of God to defeat our enemies.  Joshua and the people of Israel were involved in the battle, but God gave them the victory.  Verse eleven states, And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.  This part of the victory Joshua and the children of Israel had nothing to do with.  God killed more with great hailstones from heaven than were killed by the swords of the people of Israel.  We mat never know how many people were killed in this world by acts of God against evil.  I don't believe that we should think that every time something bad happens in a place that we think is evil that we should attribute it to God punishing those who live there though.  I believe that when God acts there will no be question that He is the One doing it.  Verse twelve declares, Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.  Joshua spoke to God and asked that the sun stand sill in Gibeon, and the moon stand still in the valley of Ajalon.  This was indeed to be a longest day, and Joshua asked this in the presence of the people of Israel.  This could not happen with the universe coming into existence by some cosmic accident, but could only occur by the power of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.  God is in control of all that He created, except for mankind, whom He gave free will.  It is not that God cannot force us to do His will, but that He chooses to allow us the choice of whether to follow Him or not.  Verse thirteen adds, And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.  I am not sure what the book of Jasher is, but the fact that this happened was recorded elsewhere.  The sun stayed up until the enemies of Israel were defeated, because Joshua had asked God to cause it to.  Joshua had faith in the power of God and gave God the credit for that victory over the enemies of Israel.  We need to rely on God's power when we engage the enemy today, and we must also give Him the  credit when we are victorious.  Verse fourteen continues, And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.  This says that this was a one time thing, where God listened to what Joshua asked, and that the LORD fought for Israel.  I don't believe that this means that God will never hear our requests again, but that when we pray, that we must pray for God's will to be done.  This would seem to be more that Joshua wanted God to endorse his plan, which God did.  Verse fifteen concludes, And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.  Joshua and the people of Israel returned to camp at Gilgal.  God was giving them victory over their enemies, just as He had said He would.  It had taken the people of Israel another forty years to claim what God had already promised them.  God has already promised us victory if we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, and there is no reason to delay accepting this gift.  When we do, we can rest at ease, no matter what is going on in the world around us.

Joshua 10:1

Joshua 10:1 says, Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;  The king of Jerusalem heard what had been going on.  He seemed to have given the credit to Joshua and the people of Israel more than to God.  Do people today hear about what we as followers of Christ are doing, and if so, are they worried about us?  It is sad if the rest of the world simply ignores those who are Christians, God's representatives in the world today.  Verse two states, That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.  The defeat of Ai worried them, but the fact that Gibeon had joined with Israel worried them even more.  Gibeon was a powerful, royal city, and it had joined with the Israelites.  No matter how powerful those are who oppose God today, they will one day fall or become a part of His people.  Of course, unlike Gibeon, they must come through an honest relationship with Christ.  We as followers of Christ have no reason fear those who stand against God.  Verse three declares, Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,  Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, sent word to four other kings.  Don't be surprised when the world unites against God.  Verse four adds, Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.  He proposed that they join together to defeat Gibeon, since Gibeon had made a pact with Israel.  Verse five continues, Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.  These five cities united in war against Gibeon.  They weren't even attacking the Israelites, God's people, but were attacking those who chose to be at peace with them.  We today should not be surprised if people who are wanting to get close to God's people are attacked.  They could easily become a part of God's kingdom, so those who oppose God would rather stop them before they do.  Verse six declares, And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.  The men of Gibeon were quick to send word to Joshua that they were about to be under attack by the Amorites.  The people of Gibeon may have tricked Joshua into making a pact with them, but they wanted him to honor it faithfully.  Verse seven states, So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.  Joshua and the mighty men of valor in Israel responded.  Would we be listed as mighty men of valor under the leadership of God today if those around us called on us for help?  Verse eight adds, And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.  God was with Joshua and assured him of the victory.  God told Joshua to not be afraid.  God has assured us the victory over sin and death today, through our faith in Christ, so we need not be afraid of the powers of the world.

Joshua 9:16

Joshua 9:16 says,  And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.  After three days, the people of Israel heard that they had made a pact with their neighbors, which God had told them not to do.  It is a shame if we find out to late that we have gone against God's directions simply because we did not consult Him first.  Some things may seem harmless or even good, as I am sure the people of Israel felt about their agreement, but we need to make sure that we seek God's guidance in all that we do.  Verse seventeen states, And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.  The people that Joshua and the people of Israel made the pact with actually lived in four cities about three days journey from where they had been.  Verse thirteen declares, And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.  The princes, or leaders, of Israel did not kill the people of these cities because of the oath they had taken before God.  We cannot make a promise in God's name and then go against it.  The rest of the people of Israel murmured against the princes.  Verse nineteen adds, But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.  Like the people of Israel, we cannot renege on a promise made in the name of God.  Even though the people of Israel made the pact without consulting God, His name was still at stake, which is why we must be careful about making promises in God's name.  These promises will always be serious, because they always reflect on God.  Verse twenty continues, This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.  The leaders of Israel said that they would let the people in these cities live because of the oath made in God's name, unless they themselves should feel God's wrath.  Verse twenty-one says, And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.  The people of these cities were to be allowed to live, but they would be required to live up to their end of the agreement.  Verse twenty-two declares, And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?  Joshua called the leaders of these cities before him and asked why they had beguiled the people of Israel.  Though this was a good question, Joshua could have been asking why he had allowed himself to be beguiled by these people.  If we consult God before we take action in any situation, then the world will not be able to beguile us.  Verse twenty-three adds, Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.  Basically, Joshua said though they were to be spared that they were not to be freed from being bondmen, or servants.  Verse twenty-four states, And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.  The people of these cities said that they did what they did because they had heard that God had given the land to the people of Israel and that all the inhabitants were to be destroyed and they were afraid.  They did not come to God by faith, but attempted to find deliverance by their own plan.  People today may attempt to find salvation by some other method than faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, but it will not work.  Verse twenty-five adds, And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.  They said they put themselves at the mercy of Joshua.  Ultimately, those today who attempt to find their own salvation will be at the mercy of God, and if they have rejected Christ, His mercy will have passed.  Verse twenty-six declares, And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.  Joshua kept the agreement that had been made with them, even though it had been made under false pretenses, because it had been made in the name of God.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.  Though they were spared, the people of these cities had a limited role.  They were basically servants to the people of Israel and the house of God.

Joshua 9:1

Joshua 9:1 says. And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;  All the kings of the area heard of the victory of Israel.  Verse two states, That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.  All these kings united to fight against Joshua and Israel.  All those who do not believe in Christ today are really united in their fight against Him.  They may not all be joined together, but they are all united in their purpose, and that is to deny the authority of God, if not His very existence.  Verse three declares,.And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,  Then verse four adds, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;  There was one group of people, the Gibeonites, who weren't ready to go to war with Israel, but like the other groups, they did not accept God.  They were wily, and made it appear that they were from far away and were coming to Joshua and the people of Israel in peace.  These are the people that we really need to be aware of today.  There are people today who profess to accept Christ as their Savior and Lord, but they really are only doing so for their own benefit and not for God's glory.  Verse five continues, And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.  Not only did they put on old clothes and shoes, but they brought old moldy bread with them.  They were determined to sell themselves as having come from a long way off.  Verse six proclaims, And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.  The people of Gibeon went to Joshua and the people of Israel and told them that they were from a far country.  We need to realize that not everyone who comes to Christians today professing to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord have really put their faith in Him.  This does not mean that we are to question their faith, but that we are simply to be aware that this does happen.  Verse seven asked, And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?  Here, they are referred to as Hivites, and are asked how the people of Israel can make a league with them since they lived among the Israelites.  We cannot make a pact with the people of the enemies of God and still live in accordance with God's word.  There can be no compromise.  Verse eight answers, And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?  They professed to be Joshua's servants and then he asked them where they came from.  Joshua was at least trying to get to the truth, but we don't see him asking for God's guidance in the situation.  This should always be our first step when confronted with a question, and if it is, we not be so easily deceived.  Verse nine says,.And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,  They said they came from a very far country because they had heard of the fame of God because of what He had done in Egypt.  There will always be people who claim to know the power of God but are still unwilling to accept Him as their God.  Verse ten adds, And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.  They continued to speak about hearing of the victory that God had given Israel over other kings.  I really believe that people today have a hard time denying the power of God.  Even when they see it, they want to deny it pretend to come to Him for their own advantage.  Verse eleven continues, Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.  The people of Gibeon continued to profess the lie that they were telling, just as some people today profess Christianity simply to use it for their advantage.  Verse twelve states, This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:  They offered physical proof of the truth of their long journey, but it was a lie.  Verse thirteen adds, And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.  They said even their wine skins which were new were torn, as was their clothing.  We should not be surprised when people today attempt to deceive the world about their relationship to God if it is to their advantage to do so.  Verse fourteen declares, And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.  This was the main problem.  Joshua and the people of Israel did not seek the counsel of God.  We should never make decisions without consulting God first if we are followers of Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.  Joshua made a league with the people of Gibeon, which was in opposition to God's command.  Even the most powerful Christian can be deceived when he or she forgets to ask God for guidance in any situation, especially those that can have lasting consequences.  Joshua was the leader of the nation of Israel, but when relying on his own judgment, he was deceived.

Joshua 8:24

Joshua 8:24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.  The Israelites killed the people of Ai who had chased them, then returned to the city and killed those who were left.  Once more, we may think this extreme, but these were people who opposed God.  Though we are not called on to destroy those who oppose God today, we are called on to destroy their influence in our life.  Verse twenty-five states, And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.  Twelve thousand men and women died that day.  Since this says that this included all the men of Ai, they were not a large enough force to have defeated the army of Israel the first time, but the army of Israel had gone under their own power instead of relying on God.  As followers of Christ, we can be defeated by even small temptations if we are not living according to God's plan and by His power in our life.  Verse twenty-six adds, For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.  None of the people of Ai were spared.  Verse twenty-seven continues, Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.  Unlike Jericho, this time the people took the spoils of war for themselves, as God had commanded them to.  Vere twenty-eight declares,  And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.  Joshua burned the city of Ai, and it remained a desolation.  God has already destroyed the power of sin and spiritual death for those who accept Christ as Savior and Lord today.  The only way sin can have power over us today is if we allow it to if we are Christians.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.  The king of Ai was hanged for a day, then buried under a heap of stones at the gate of the city.  I believe this was done to show other people what would happen if they opposed God and the people of Israel, His people.  We do not have such visual demonstrations available today, so we must rely on simply living by the gospel of Christ to convince others to come to Christ by faith.  Verse thirty proclaims, Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,  Joshua built an altar to God on mount Ebal.  Joshua was giving the honor and glory to God for their victory, just as we should do in everything that we do today if we are His people.  Verse thirty-one adds, As Moses the servant of the LORD 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 hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.  The altar was built according to the instructions that Moses had received from God and given to the people of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to God there.  We today need to give our offerings to God in accordance with His word.  It is not so much what we give as it is our reason and attitude for giving.  Verse thirty-two states, And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.  Joshua wrote on the stones of the altar a copy of the law of Moses, which was God's law.  We as followers of Christ should have God's law written in our hearts, which should be an altar to God.  Verse thirty-three adds, And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.  All the people, both the Israelites and the strangers around them who chose to, stood before the altar to worship God.  I believe that we can say that anyone who comes to God by faith will be welcome at His altar.  Jesus did not die just for a select group of people, but for all who come to Him by faith.  Verse thirty-four continues,  And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.  Joshua read the whole law of God to them.  We cannot just accept the part of God's law that we like to follow, but must follow all of His law.  Verse thirty-five concludes, There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.  Just as Joshua read all the word of Moses, the law that God had given Him, to the people then, we must share all of God's word with the people today.  The gospel is to be shared with everyone, even the stranger and little children.

Joshua 8:10

Joshua 8:10 says,  And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.  Joshua rose up early, counted the people of Israel and went with the elders up before the people of Ai.  This doesn't really sound like the way to prepare for war, and I am not sure why Joshua counted the people, other than that must have been something God led him to do.  Verse eleven states, And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.  Not only the people of war, or army we would say, went near Ai, but all the people went together and camped on the north side of Ai.  We may not all feel like we are people of war in the battle with evil, but we are all a part of God's army, whether we are actively engaged in what feels like a battle or not.  Even if we are not in a great battle, we need to support those who are to the best of our ability.  Verse twelve says, And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.  Joshua set five thousand men up on the west side of Ai to ambush those who came after the people of Israel.  This was not just Joshua's plan, but God's plan.  Though I don't know that we are to ambush those who oppose God today, I do know that He has a plan that will lead to their defeat.  We simply have to follow His leadership.  Verse thirteen declares,  And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.  That night, when everything was in place, Joshua went into the valley between Ai and the people of Israel.  It seems that Joshua went alone into the valley.  He was the leader of the people, but he wasn't hiding safely behind them.  Sometimes, we may need to place ourselves in a place of danger in order to do the will of God.  Verse fourteen proclaims, And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.  When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, he went with all his people to battle them, but the did not recognize the ambush that had been set up.  Satan will send all his army against us today, especially if he thinks that we are close to defeat, but he will always be ambushed by the cross of Calvary.  The victory is already ours, as long as we remain faithful to God.  Verse fifteen states, And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.  The people of Israel and Joshua all acted like they were defeated and fled by way of the wilderness.  Verse sixteen adds, And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.   All the people of Ai left the city to pursue the people of Israel.  They seemingly had an easy victory in sight once again.  The people of the world may at times see us, as followers of Christ, as people who are easily defeated, but if we are following God's plan, they will always be in for a surprise.  We cannot be defeated spiritually as long as we follow God's leadership.  Verse seventeen continues, And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.  The people of Ai were so confident of victory that they left the city totally unguarded.  After all, they had defeated the people of Israel once before with no real problem.  There was a difference this time though.  The people of Israel were following God's direction and relying on His power.  We may have been defeated before by the world when we have failed to live by God's guidance and under His power, but if we return to Him, we do not have to continue to suffer defeat.  Verse eighteen declares, And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.  God told Joshua to stretch out his spear toward Ai and that God would give him the victory.  The victory was not to be because of Joshua stretching out the spear, but because he was following the command of God.  We are not going to be spiritually victorious today because of our own power, but because we are following God's guidance.  Verse nineteen adds, And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.  Those who had waited in ambush went into the city and set it on fire.  This was the place of security for the people of Ai, and now it was burning, and the people of God were on both sides of them.  Verse twenty continues, And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.  Like the people of Ai that day, when the people of the world who reject God look back for some place of safety they are going to find none.  There is no place of refuge outside the safety that we receive by following Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-one declares, And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.  When the people of Israel saw that the city of Ai was on fire, they turned and killed the enemy.  These were the same people who had fled earlier when they went to take Ai by their own power.  We do not gain any super human strength when we begin to follow God, but we do gain a spiritual strength that cannot be defeated as long as we are faithful to God.  Verse twenty-two adds, And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.  All the people of Ai were killed, except the king.  God's victory over sin and death will always be a complete victory.  Verse twenty-three concludes, And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.  The king had just lost everything, and just like him, one day those who do not accept Christ as their Savior and Lord will stend before God having lost everything.