DECEMBER 27, 2012
A
Winning Strategy
Read: Joshua 7:1-13
Israel has sinned, and
they have also transgressed My covenant. —Joshua 7:11
During
my days as a high school basketball coach, I made a huge
mistake. I sent some
of my players to scout an opponent. They
returned with this report: We can take
those guys easily. Overconfident,
we lost to that team. Does that sound familiar?
To me, it sounds like the
situation at Ai when Joshua sent out his scouts, who
misjudged their
opponent’s strength.
But
there was more to the defeat at Ai than bad scouting. Israel lost the
battle
and 36 soldiers for several reasons that I think we can learn from.
Shortly
before the loss at Ai, Joshua led his army successfully against
Jericho because
he knew God’s plan of attack. But there is no mention
of Joshua consulting God
before Ai. Prior to the battle of Jericho, the
men had consecrated themselves
to God (Josh. 5:2-8). Before
Ai—nothing is said about Joshua’s men preparing
themselves spiritually.
The reason the Bible gives for the Israelites’ loss is
sin in the camp.
Achan had stolen from the spoils of Jericho (7:1). They could
not defeat
Ai until the sin was confessed and the people had consecrated
themselves
(7:16-26). Then God gave them a plan for victory (8:1-7).
A
winning strategy for our daily battles: confessing our sin and living in
the
power that God provides.
Dear Lord, before I go off into the battle today,
forgive me of my sin and lead me in the path You
want me to go. I want to serve You. Empower me
to live for You and Your will. Amen.
Purity in the heart produces power in the life.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
