Joshua:  Help/Mercy                                            February 23, 2010

Scripture Reading:  Joshua 7:6-9 (New International Version)

 ⁶ Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. ⁷ And Joshua said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! ⁸ O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? ⁹ The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?"

In this scripture reading Joshua is questioning God, having a bit of a pity party, after the Israelites were defeated at the battle of Ai.  A little history on the defeat shows us that the Israelites were really on a role in moving forward in their quest for the land of Canaan.  They had won several battles to keep with God’s purpose for Israel.  However, they then became too self-confident and rested too much on their latest victory at Jericho.  Joshua failed to take time to get alone with the Lord and truly seek his plan, which lead to their defeat at Ai.  So often we are like Joshua and tend to rush ahead without taking time with the Lord to draw near to Him and His resources for us and to put on the full armor of God.  It wasn’t until Joshua had failed that he cried out to the Lord.  Failure does not need to be the end.  In fact, failure can be the back door to success depending on how we respond.  Nothing is accomplished with our face in the dirt, so we need to listen and respond to the Lord, giving Him all the glory. 

Dear Lord,

I pray that the people of our community will be drawn closer to you on all the decisions in their lives.  I pray that in our successes and our failures we would grow through these experiences to better your kingdom here on earth.  Help us to build each other up in times of defeat and continually seek to be in your will for us.  Amen.  

Jesse Strege