Read: Joshua 7:16-9:2; Luke 16:1-18; Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 3:2-3
Yesterday we read the great victory of the city of Jericho and the utter defeat of the small town of Ai. Today they find out the reason for their defeat. Achan had lusted after a beautiful robe and some silver and taken it for himself. He had buried it in a hole under his tent. His sin cost the lives of many of his fellow Israelites and his own as he was taken outside the camp and stoned.
Joshua planned his attack on Ai and God told him they could have all the plunder for themselves. If only Achan had waited. Patience is one of the hardest virtues to obtain but one of the most beneficial. Not being able to wait on the Lord has cost the loss of many things. That is why James says to pray for patience that you may be perfect lacking nothing. I know we have been taught not to pray for patience because if we do, we will be tested in that area but that is a very immature attitude. If we want to grow in our walk, we will have to have patience and we need to be tested in patience so we will grow in it. All of Jesus’ temptations had to do with waiting on God’s timing.
Joshua completely destroyed Ai and all its inhabitants including the king. He refused to stop short of his assignment. Joshua had the king’s body hung on a tree to let the birds eat it then threw it at the entrance of the city and piled rocks on top of it. I know this sounds gruesome but this king stood for a demonic principality.
Joshua then read the law, the blessings and the curses to all the people.
In Luke, Jesus tells the parable about the shrewd manager. The moral of the story was that we like the manager need to live for tomorrow. We need to prepare for our eternal home. God is looking for what we do with the small things of this world to see if he can trust us with bigger things in his kingdom.
Lord, help us to walk in patience and wisdom today.
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