Jeff Dowdy's Blog

Joshua 6-8

In these three chapters there is an incredible amount of lesson and learning to be had. First we see the peoples faithfulness to what seems like a silly way to defeat a city at the battle of Jericho. There are mixed findings archaeologically about whether or not this actually happened, but by faith we believe that it did. The lesson is to trust God no matter what the instructions are.

Then we see the people deal with sin in the camp. Achan took items that were banned from the city. He hid them away. The men, having confidence, attack the city of Ai. They are defeated resoundingly. They discover the sin, deal with Achan and his family, and then go back to defeat the city at Ai. The lesson is that we need to rid our lives of the sin that so easily entangles us. Wait a minute I think somebody later on the Bible says that...Hebrews 12:1

Just for free. I heard a story once that the battle strategy that was used by the people of Israel against the city of Ai where they lured the men out to fight and then ambushed the city from behind was actually used by Napoleon and he cited the strategy from the battle of Ai as his inspiration.

Tomorrow's reading: 9-12