Now we see Ai defeated. At the outset the Lord says to Joshua "Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged". Joshua has just suffered a defeat and a rebuke from the Lord. However, the matter has now been dealt with, so it is time to move on. We have tremendous problems distinguishing between discipline and rejection. The Lord disciplines us. ie He opens our eyes to things that are wrong in our lives, and tells us to put them right. He does this so that we can get things right, and continue to grow in Christ, but we are so used to people using our failings as an excuse to do us down, or to get one over on us, to belittle us in some way, that we treat it as rejection. We need to learn to be disciplined.
This time they could carry off the plunder. Achan thought that God's command not to take any plunder from Jericho was denying him something, when God knew all along that soon He would give them the plunder. All of God's plans are for our good. If we think "I am being denied something here", then we need to be on our guard that the enemy is seeking to lure us into disobedience.
At the first attempt to take Ai an army of 3 000 was used, not 30 000 are sent. A much more realistic plan is put into practice. God is often more realistic and practical than we are!
So the battle was won, and the plunder was taken.
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