I was inspired to study Joshua’s victory over Ai because of the rise of capital A, capital I in our time. Capital A, capital I seems to be a formidable opponent of the Christian faith, twisting truth until it's an absolute lie.
Ai, a small city located 2 miles east of Bethel, was the second city Joshua attacked in pursuit of Israel’s promised land. Joshua sent spies who came back reporting that Ai had few men; therefore, few Israelites would be required to conquer it. To Joshua’s dismay, the Israelites turned tail and ran from the men of Ai resulting in their defeat. Joshua tore his clothes, put dust on his head, and fell on His face before the ark of God. Responding to Joshua, the Lord revealed the reason for Israel’s defeat. There was sin in the camp which affected their courage. Joshua 6:12 says that because of the sin in their camp, they could not stand against their enemy.
Joshua dealt with the sin and those responsible for it. One man, Achan, stole and hid the spoils of battle (a Babylonian garment, as well as gold & silver from Babylon) by burying them under his tent. Joshua ordered Achan, his sons, his daughters, all his livestock, his tent, and all the spoils to be stoned and then burned with fire.
Then, the Lord said to Joshua: “Fear not, neither be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given unto your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.” The Lord gave Joshua an interesting strategy for the battle which included luring the men of Ai out of their city by running from them while others set the city on fire. The Israelites that were running from the men of Ai then turned to pursue them. The men of Ai were trapped between the Israelites and the flames of their city (Joshua 6 & 7). We’re told that all the inhabitants of Ai were destroyed, including the king. Joshua commanded all the ruins to be covered with stones. He then built an altar of stones unto the Lord where they offered sacrifices to the Lord. The 10 commandments were inscribed upon those stones.
I did a word study on Ai. The word is pronounced in two syllables, long a and long i. The Hebrew word Ai (05857) comes from a word (05756) meaning ruins or heap of ruins which comes from a root word (05753) meaning to bend, twist, distort, pervert, do wrong, commit iniquity. Interestingly, that’s exactly what capital A, capital I does. It bends, twists, distorts, perverts, promotes wrong, and promotes iniquity which will result in ruins for the land.
Joshua had victory over Ai and we will overcome capital A, capital I as well. This is what it will take. Before we go to war, we must repent of any sin in the camp (church). Joshua purged the camp with fire. We must embrace the cleansing fire of God, confess & repent of all sins, especially those Babylonian in origin (worldly practices and attitudes).
The Lord will give us the strategy for overcoming capital A, capital I. Make no mistake – “What the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good” (Genesis 50:20). God will give us the city. We will see the king of bending, twisting, distortion, perversion, promoting wrong and iniquity with the goal of destruction (ruin) DEFEATED. From the place where The Twister once filled the land with falsehood, we will declare the truth, the whole truth, the gospel truth, and nothing but the truth. So, help us God!
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