DEFEATS THAT THREATEN DESTINY (Part 4)
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.
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. How many times in your life have you acted before seeking God? How many times was it successful for you or do you remember the consequences of your own decisions?
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.
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. Thus we find prayerlessness is the fourth thing we must avoid to stop the threats to our spiritual destiny.
There are three specific things to remember:
(1) The "Ais" of life, or the battles with the flesh, are not won the same way as the "Jerichos."
(2) Neither can you live in past victories or the traditions of yesterday.
(3) 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. How many times in your life have you acted before seeking God? How many times was it successful for you or do you remember the consequences of your own decisions?
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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