[A Meditation on One Verse]

(Joshua 8:1) “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.’”

If you look closely at chapter 7, there was no word from God when Israel went to attack the city of Ai the first time. They did not ask God. The experience of tearing down the fortress of Jericho had become a poison, and their hearts were covered by a proud self-confidence that ‘we can do this with our own strength.’ It was a delusion. Their own self-confidence, without God, made them devastating losers.

But what words are these? Right in that place of failure, God meets Israel. He turns the Valley of Achor into a valley of hope.

”Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged… I have delivered [it all] into your hands.”

In the very place where Israel had fallen, the Lord raises them up. He makes them stand not with their own self-confidence, but with boldness in God. This is the very identity of Israel.

’Those who are nothing without God, but who become everything in God.’

It is the same for us today. A path may look wonderful and safe to the eyes of the world, but no. A path without God is neither excellent nor safe. And so, this morning again, we pray to the Lord.

”Lord, today I want Jesus alone to be the boast of my steps. Protect me with Your word.”

---

(Daily Reading)

– Joshua 8:1-17