Victory at Ai (Part B)

All you worship God because that's what Abraham did we remember Abraham for nothing else. I think two outstanding things are about Abraham to me. One is that he prayed for some your Lord, you will wipe side of the mountain classes yet you know what's in that city are on you just now fire and brimstone man and the other one is where everywhere when you read it. Abraham move. He left an altar behind this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Ricky is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Joshua. Please stay with us after today's message here. More information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Joshua chapter 7 today. Pastor Rick will continue with this message called victory AI in Joshua chapter 8 God said the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys use those hills and valleys to hide the forces so as I said God is the author of confusion upon his enemies. It is his prerogative to be such come across such tactics again in Judges chapter 20 gotchas.

I will send them strong delusion because they did not have a love of the truth. What a lie. Verse eight, and it will be when you have taken the city that you shall set the city on fire.

According to the commandment of Yahweh, you shall do. See, I have commanded you, leaving nothing for the enemy to re-occupy.

God says I want to take the city kill everyone in it.

Take the spoil for yourself. Burn it down. Leave nothing for the enemy. Modern warfare is a scorched earth doctrine where they just break the will of the enemy to recover the get them so focused on trying to survive as a burned up and stolen everything that anybody can use a norm in the South but Sherman that's how he marched to the sea. That's what he did and it was effective.

Verse nine Joshua therefore sent them out and they went to lie in ambush and stay between Bethel and AI.

The west side of AI would Joshua Lodge that night. Among the people. How suggestive Bethel means the house of God. Jacob gave it that name. Bruce was the name originally and that the locals may not of called it Bethel. But the Jews knew it as Bethel, the house of God AI. As we discussed means ruins in Joshua at the end of it all will make a play on the words step away from the house of God, or in the other direction to the east ruins.

This is the suggested language is not of the life in Christ of life outside of graduate, every life is between Bethel and AI in every life has to make a choice which one matters most. What you do if you find yourself between the house of God and ruin. Abraham found himself in this very spot. When he lived in the land between Bethel and AI. What did he do, he built an altar you worship God because that's what Abraham did we remember Abraham for nothing else.

I think two outstanding things are about Abraham to me.

One is that he prayed for some your Lord, you will wipe side of the mountain classes yet you know what's in that city you don't go near just south of fire and brimstone. What man in the other.

When this where everywhere when you read it. Abraham move.

He left an altar behind. Imagine leaving that kind of a punch in your neighborhood. Imagine when you pack up.

Everybody said does avoid here that was a godly person that lived here now they're gone. These lessons in Scripture. Just take up everything about us. Here is a general amongst his troops and during the same inconveniences that they are enduring, is not always possible nor is it always wise, but in this case to find himself there with the people is just what needs to take place, especially after the defeat in verse 10, Joshua rose up early in the morning and muster the people and went up.

He and the elders of Israel before the people to AI and here again he's rising up early and asleep around the sky. HS boys up and gone and pulling everyone else with them. As mentioned before, he is such a model of obedience writ reoccurring virtues are associated with this assort story of the book of Joshua is obedience. His diligence and his zeal you can be a hard worker and you can be obedient, but are you zealous and so you take a hard worker. Maybe you you work with other people and their hard workers. They do what they're told. But they complain every step of the way diminishes performance and makes work harder.

Now you lift your spirits. In addition to whatever else you lifting Joshua doesn't come off that way. He comes offices zealous character what's next. God says I need you to do this and he is yes doing it. It is a high and noble calling to be a follower of a good leader.

Everybody cannot lead everybody can follow. Not everybody can follow well. Many leaders are are plagued by people that you just do more harm then the enemy doesn't seems almost but here in the story of Joshua we find the right combination. There's a rhythm between the leader and those being led right up to the point where Caleb enters reenters the story and in Caleb is still coming to Joshua's let me take this land over here, Joshua doesn't just do a break off and do it on his own.

I don't care what God said I know what he told me I only Joshua doesn't come off that way at all.

This lovely little things fly out of the Scripture teaches how to behave ourselves as we need to learn well, obedient, hard-working and zealous all at the same time.

Verse 11 and all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near and it came before the city and camped on the north side of AI Noah Valley lay between them and AI verse 12, so he took about 5000 men set them in ambush between Bethel and AI on the west side of the city while you have AI and then to the West as Bethel.

Bethel was going to enter the fight against the Jews are going to join those of AI and Joshua knows this so he sets up a flank guard and that's it says he takes a regiment of men and he says you sit over here at just the just knows what he's doing, you, we cannot ask again Christians just jump into things, not knowing what were doing and expect to have good results in some industries if you try to fake what you doing get killed. You don't know a thing about electricity your work with electricity and without supervision and listening.

You can find yourself best spot, verse, verse 13 and when they had set the people all the Army that was on the north side of the city and its rear guard on the west side of the city.

Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley so you have these forces that have been divided but yet there joined together. I mean, they're not separate separated there. Did they are covering the war zone.

Under the cover of darkness and readiness daylight. Joshua's nighttime marshaling is going to pay off so he's got a battle coming and he has a plan and he executes his plan and he is doing everything he is supposed to do with this encounter. He's tried to leave nothing to chance. That's what brings the victory he knows God is with him. God can see the Joshua is with God doing what he is supposed to do as a commander and that we look at this and we just ditch it for me reading it as a Christian in a devotional way I read this and I come away as I'm gonna keep fighting my flesh and going to keep making plans against it. I'm going to stay a step ahead of it. I'm going to take advantage of these lessons that have been preserved for us. Verse 14 now it happened when the king of AI sought that the men of the city hurried and rose early and went out against Israel to battle just like the flesh, he and all his people at an appointed place before the plane, but he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.

So at dawn he sees the armies.

His men rise to the occasion just like the flesh not going to just lie over you going to have to work to get it out comes out against Israel to battle mistake the nations of been making to this day, but it did. He did not know the ambush was in place.

We are told and this is precisely why it is called an ambush.

So the other side does not know that you are lying undetected, ready to pounce.

Verse 15 and Joshua and all the people made as if they were beaten before them, and fled. By the way of the wilderness, so all the people who were NAI were called together to pursue them, and they pursue Joshua and were drawn away from the city saw a successful military feint tactic. Knowing what you doing matters. The king of AI and his forces said we've got him again. Now we going to finish them off, and the ones we don't kill we will so break their spirit will never come back here again that this what they were thinking they would never return home. Verse eight verse 17 there was not a man left in AI all Bethel who do not go out after Israel so they left the city open and pursued just that little mention of Bethel joining the fray had to be on signal of some sort. I mean, there's about a mile and separates them and yet they get the word to join it. The enemy is organized but the enemy makes mistakes AI or Bethel went out against Israel. Joshua's flank God will take care of Bethel that we read about in verse 12. It also called a rearguard here by the translators, but the modern day would be covering his cell verse 18, then Joshua then Yahweh said to Joshua, now I gotta pause right there in the midst of the battle, God is speaking to his man. So Joshua has the plan and yet he is still dependent on the spirit of God and that is crucial to fighting for the Lord Joshua and the Lord said to Joshua, stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward AI for I will give it in to your hand. So Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city, Joshua.

You gotta love this guy is ready to kill or be killed is a commander and he's not going unarmed and is not, you know, like a pie mentioned he doesn't have a dagger he's got a spear and probably wearing a sword also does this is our Lord fighting for us. We get to heaven will be no more of this stuff went on. Verse 19 so the ambushes of those in ambush rose quickly out of their place. They ran as soon as he stretched out his hand and the ends of the city and took it in hurried to set the city on fire so the battlefield literally heats up while they make at the battlefield first 20 and when the men of AI looks behind them they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven so they had no power to flee this way are that way, and the people who had fled in to the wilderness, turned back on the pursuers. So, those who drew these troops out the Jews that drew them out acting like they were retreating they were retreating, but it was a feint now turned back around and are attacking those from AI joining up with Joshua's other forces so there literally and bad spot. The people from AI and who so they had no power.

Verse 22 flee this way or that way.

The people who had fled to the wilderness, turned back on the pursuers now and Joshua and all Israel. Verse 21. Saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and struck down the men of AI verse 22 is a lot happening here.

Can't you see can you not see yourself part of this well if you say no I can't cite my meditations on other things well, but you can see yourself on your flesh.

Verse 22 then the others came out of the city against them so they were caught in the midst of Israel someone decide someone the on that side and they struck them down so that they let none of them remain or escape of this was brutal. It was a bloodbath. It was less a massacre and more of a judgment.

This hold campaign of taking the promised land, Israel's diversion force again turned back joining the main force and they wipe wipe out the Army. Verse 23.

But the king of AI. They took alive and brought him to Joshua verse 34 and it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of AI in the field in the wilderness where they pursue them when they all had fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed that all the Israelites returned to AI and struck it with the edge of the sword verse 25. So it was that all who fell that day both men and women were 12,000 and all the people of AI and Bethel of course is just bundled into the AI being the principal city and of the writer doesn't keep mentioning Bethel. This is of course the naysayers will come along themselves or brutalism as they grow up man.

This this is life this in the disease so easy to shoot that argument down with usually don't stay for the answers. Verse 26 Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the spear until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of AI sort of Moses ask like when Moses held up his arms, praying there. Aaron and demanding her holding his arms up while Joshua was then on the battlefield during the actual fighting in here. Joshua has a spear out as God told him to hold out and he keeps it out and of course when his right hand is tidy as per spear in the other hand assist you in Ress skill back to this. This is a large force of 30,000 probably made quick work of this operation with with their swords. Now during the Gulf War in 1990. You might some of you may recall, the highway Highway of death. I think it was called.

For those of you who don't know the Iraqi army under Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. While the coalition forces led by the United States, drove them out and when they were coming. The drive amount. The Iraq he Army retreated back to Iraq from Kuwait. Along this highway number 80 and the coalition forces bombed them to smithereens. And of course the journalists were there with their little cameras at taking as many pictures of the burnt carcasses as they could and that brought up this mock pity and in some foolish people over so horrible he should've done that these people were monsters who they didn't murder they mutilated and maimed and molested.

These were not troops in retreat. These were criminals and uniforms with the strength of an army and they were judged and destroyed. This is a similar situation. These people here were spiritual and moral reprobates and God said, concerning the Canaanites. I've had enough. He had given them centuries to correct their ways and they did not judgment fell and the Jews were the ones that brought it. And sin has a wicked fruit and in the gospel messages that you can find a place in heaven where there is no more sin if you receive the invitation. Of course, so no mercy is shown to them and no mercy is to be shown to our flesh is written is no redeeming feature about our our carnal nature to say yeah but you know, no, no I don't. The spirit is superior and when we are on our best behavior.

We are on our best behavior. It's simple enough. So Joshua a thorough commander obedient as a servant of God. Verse 27, only the livestock and the spoil of that city.

Israel took as booty for themselves. According to the word of Yahweh, which he commanded Joshua so Joshua verse 28 earned AI and made a heap over it forever desolation to this day.

The word is telling the Hebrew's ruins it means ruins so it's a play on the words AI and the heat play on the 22 words in the Hebrew for ruins verse 29 and the king of AI.

He hanged on a tree until evening and as soon as possible. The sun was down. Joshua commanded that they should take the corpse down from the tree casted at the entrance of the gate of the city and raise already heap of stones that remains to this day. Of course modern or the location of AI is just a giant mountain who knows what's underneath it and I believe archaeologists ever excavated will discover pile of stones over what would've been a body, maybe even a skeleton anyway knows what's going to happen with that. That's how the story ends. Joshua is compliant with God's word concerning wrongdoers when they hung on a tree there not to stay there or overnighted to be brought down and so he does that, even to the king of AI and we know there are connections so to the cross in the Lord not being wanted overnight, but that would take up another 40 minutes. Verse 30, Joshua built an altar to Yahweh, God of Israel and mount T-ball as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded the children of Israel as it is written in the book of the law of Moses and altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool and they offered it on offered on it burnt offerings to Yahweh and sacrificed peace offerings. So there.

Joshua built an altar and he now joins a group of great believers that in the Scripture to have built an altar.

Noah built an altar Abraham built an altar. Moses built an altar, Isaac, and also in here.

We read in Joshua built an altar lawyer were some scoundrels that did to. That's another story. This mount T-ball is about a little under 25 miles from this battlefield, so they had North where Mount Grissom and mount T-ball are in is a lot of lessons here you see why mount T-ball.

Why did they not go to Mount Grissom because Moses commanded, when you get into the promised land you going to split the tribes into one will go up Mount Grissom one bought mount T-ball and facing each other. You will yell and recite into the valley of the blessings from Mount Grissom and the curses from mount T-ball and this is what they're now doing so.

Of the two mountains. Why don't they choose the mountain of blessings, Mount Grissom why did they go up T-ball because the curses, curses were associated with the altar. The altar is for those under the curse. That's that's what's happening there so I don't know if confuse you because it can be a lot of his new information. The curses were read from T-ball, not Grissom. That's with the altar was put because the altar is for those under the curse, our altar is Jesus Christ our sacrifice on the altar is Jesus Christ. He consumes both of them. He takes the whole thing in a whole burnt offering, it all belongs to him and so we read as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded the children of Israel, there is that that Gallant volume Moses the servant of God.

So many of us we we to say I'm a servant of God.

This is hard to say that Jesus said that you are, you know, say it this way, you are unprofitable servants because next to a holy God who can really serve them and yet we do serve him and we are rewarded for our service is, humbling it's it's it's what I'm trying to get out to read Moses the servant of Yahweh. It should stand out to us as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, of course, is God's law of Moses is the lawgiver. So the altar that they built it expressed belief in God. That's when you put all things I believe in God but I also believe I need God because I'm a sinner and I'm a created being. It speaks also of submitting to him for the Jewish believers designed by built an altar because I need him.

I believe in him and I'm submitted to him, but will probably most importantly, it says I desire see, that's the example Abraham left behind.

God is not always the not always have to say that Abraham I have a have a building and altar. Abraham did as he loved God he wanted to he was God's friend. So the altar on Mount T-ball the place of the curse saying these things to God the presence of the curse in the presence of sin and everything that's wrong. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Joshua cross reference is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. If you're interested in more information about this ministry, please visit our website cross reference radio.com find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified each new edition of cross reference radio.

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