[316 words]
“So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people. Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai” (Josh. 8:9-10 ESV).
Israel had been defeated by Ai on an earlier occasion (cf. Jos. 7:1ff). Mistakes had been made, including a transgression of God’s command (Achan had taken of the accursed items of Jericho), a failure to seek the Lord’s counsel, and no leadership presence when the battle was waged. But Israel learned quickly from those mistakes as evidenced by the disposal of sin (7:10ff), hearing and heeding God’s instructions (8:1-2), and the presence of her leaders the second time around (8:1, 3-10). Complete and total victory was the result of the lessons Israel had learned!
Inspirations exclusion and inclusion of leadership presence during the two battles must not be minimized. Today’s spiritual leaders would do well to learn from Joshua’s failures and successes. It appears that Joshua was not with his men leading the charge in that initial battle with Ai, but he (along with the elders of Israel), was present and on the frontlines during their second clash with Ai. And where was Joshua the night before that great encounter? He was where every great leader should be; that is, in the trenches with his troops!
There are many soldiers of the cross of Christ who are facing some uphill battles against a mighty foe. Where are all the “Joshua’s” (spiritual leaders)? The church of our Lord is failing in many places because there is no leadership presence. Now, more than ever, we need men like Joshua who will spend the night among the people and then lead them forward to victory.
Terry R. Townsend
Curry church of Christ
Jasper, AL