In the story of Ai, there were four major reasons for defeat, all of which are common in spiritual setbacks experienced by believers. We have discussed three of these, but today we deal with another major reason for their defeat and that was prayerlessness.
Joshua listened to the self-reliant men who returned from viewing Ai, but according to the biblical record he did not pray about the report he received. He immediately organized only 3,000 warriors to go up to Ai to battle.
Had Joshua taken time to pray, undoubtedly God would have revealed that there was sin in Israel and would have warned him not to go to battle. Had Joshua taken time to pray, he would have also discovered that the pattern for attacking Ai was not to be the same as that used at Jericho.
The "Ais" of life (the battles with the flesh)are not won the same way as the "Jerichos”, a city representative of the world. Neither can you live on past victories or the traditions of yesterday. God has new strategies for each battle you face. The strategy to take Ai was different from that used at Jericho.
In the book of Judges, a man named Gideon was told to reduce his army before going into battle in Judges 7. For the return to Ai, Joshua was told to take all the warriors to battle. You cannot limit God to a certain pattern. He is the God who has declared "I will do a new thing.” You cannot act solely on the basis of tradition or precedent.
But Joshua did not take time to pray. Instead, he sent only a few of the troops to Ai. Sadly, some of the men were killed and the remainder fled before the enemy.
Remember that the "Ais" of life are not won the same way as the "Jerichos". In each new battle you face, you must lay aside your pride and carnal perception, pray to learn God's strategies, and follow His principles.
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