The Blame Game...

Last week, we looked at one of the most famous stories in the Bible, called the battle of Jericho. And in this story, we saw that Joshua and the Jewish people’s faithful obedience to God’s commands resulted in all of the inhabitants of the Promised Land recognizing that God was present and active with Joshua and the Jewish people and that Joshua’s reputation as a leader was greatly enhanced. Yet, as the story continued, we discover that all is not well with he Jewish people, as we see in Joshua 7:1:

But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel.

This story begins with some background information that helps provide context for what will unfold. And the background information begins with a word that sets an ominous tone- “But”. Last week, we saw God explain to the Jewish people that the city of Jericho and everything in it was to be devoted to God for destruction. With the exception of Rahab and her family, Jericho was to be raised to the ground and all life destroyed.

In addition, the soldiers were commanded to keep themselves from taking anything from Jericho. Everything except the precious metals, which were to go into funding God’s mission to give the Jewish people that land that had been promised to them, were to be destroyed.

However, instead of following God’s command, a man named Achan took some things that were to be devoted to and given to God. And as a result of Achan’s selfish rebellion and sin, God’s righteous anger was kindled and burned against the Jewish nation. God was fired up at the Jewish people for this act of selfish rebellion that was committed by this Jewish soldier. Now, with this important background information in mind, the stage is now set for what unfolds next:

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." So the men went up and spied out Ai. They returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few."

Unaware of the selfish rebellion that is in their midst, Joshua sends two spies on another reconnaissance mission to the next city that the Jewish people would encounter, which was named Ai, so that they could prepare for battle. The spies, upon returning from their reconnaissance mission, explained to Joshua that Ai was relatively small and seemed to be far less fortified than Jericho. As a matter of fact, the spies were so confident in their ability to destroy Ai that they recommended that only two to three thousand men would be necessary to achieve victory. The spies explain "there is no sense in wearing everyone out, just send a few soldiers and let everyone else relax".

Joshua responds to their suggestion by sending the maximum number of troops that the spies had suggested. The spies, however, vastly underestimated the defenses of the city and were vastly overconfident in their ability and strategy, which we see as the story continues:

So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

The men of Ai responded to the Jewish nation’s assault on their city by launching a successful counterattack. And in the midst of this unexpected counterattack; in the midst of their overconfidence; in the midst of underestimating their enemy, the Jewish army began to flee in order to escape the men of Ai. And in their escape, thirty six Jewish soldiers were cut down in defeat.

And as the Jewish soldiers returned to their camp battered and beaten, the hearts of the Jewish people melted and became as water. In other words, the Jewish nation’s resolve and will to take possession of the land that God had promised them dissolved. The Jewish nation was like water that would provide no resistance to any opposition it would face. And in the midst of the hurt, pain and disappointment that came with a dissolving resolve, we see Joshua approach God:

Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! "O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? "For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?"

Now to tear one’s clothes and to put dust on one’s head was a sign of profound grief and sadness that accompanied mourning. This behavior is still seen today in many cultures around the world during a funeral procession. Joshua and his leadership team respond to their unexpected defeat by falling on their face in prayer before the Ark of the Covenant, which was the place that signified where the presence of God dwelt among the Jewish people.

If Joshua were to pray this prayer in the language that we use in today’s culture, his prayer would have sounded something like this: “God, why did this happen? Why did you bring us across the Jordan if you were just going to kill us once we got here? Why didn’t you just let us stay on the other side of the Jordan? If only we would have stayed there instead of crossing here. Because now all the nations will hear about how we fled from battle and will come and attack and destroy us. Then, after we are destroyed, what are you going to do then God, to make your name great? So, God what are you going to do now"?

Isn’t this often how we respond when restarting our life does not go as easily as we planned? “God, why isn’t this working out? Why is this so hard? I am trying to change; I am trying to restart my life? It sure would be a lot easier to not change. Maybe I should just give up and just live like I always have. God what are you going to do now? God, where are you and what are you going to do to fix this?” Have you been there? Maybe you can relate to Joshua's prayer because Joshua’s prayer is the prayer that you find yourself uttering over and over again.

However, God responds to Joshua's prayer in a most unexpected way. We will look at God's unexpected response tomorrow.

When things do not go as well as you expect, where do you go? Where do you turn? What, or who, do you blame?