Through God's awesome provision they conquered the great walled city of Jericho simply by walking around it and blowing trumpets. Actually the lesson is that they did what God asked and he conquered them because they were obedient even if the plan seemed foolish.
His request in return to this great conquer was that they under no conditions were to take any of the loot. Seems reasonable eh, he conquers them and this is all he asks in return. However the loot was way too tempting for some, namely Achan, who took some of the loot and paid for his disobedience with his life and that of his families.
Joshua 7:20-26 http://www.biblegateway.com
New International Version (NIV)
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”
Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.
In Joshua 8 the Israelites were preparing for battle again and this time God asks them to take the loot. Ya I bet they were thinking, OK didn't one of us try that and pay for it with his life, no way are we taking the loot.
Joshua 8:1-2,24-27 http://www.biblegateway.com
New International Version (NIV)
8 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2 You shall 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. Set an ambush behind the city.”
24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. 25 Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai. 26 For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed[a] all who lived in Ai. 27 But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua.
While the situations in our lives may be very different, how often I wonder does God give us direction promising us all the while to provide? How often do we get sidetracked by the loot on the way or by thinking his plan makes no sense and that we have a better one?
Are we determined to follow that still small voice that directs our paths, to follow it in faith?
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