The children of Israel were in the Promised Land together they had known many successes spiritually. It is at times like these that Satan will step up the attacks.

Alex Ferguson manager of Man. Utd. Tried in Brazil to make the best of a bad job, his team had been a disaster I am sure he will hope for better things now in case they become disheartened.

We can say what we like about Achan but it was really a big disaster for Israel. I am sure moral in the camp was at an all time low, I am sure Joshua never felt worse. I am sure because I have stood in his shoes after failing the Lord miserably. I have sat ready to give up, give in. Failures are difficult to cope with.

When we fail in school, fail in work, fail in our homes to be what we know we should be, it is difficult to cope with, but to fail the Lord, to let him down in view of what he has done for us, is the most miserable feeling of all.

I know there has been times when, like Peter, I have just wanted to go out and weep.

To be out of fellowship, out of communion with God, what a dreadful place to find ourselves because of sin in the camp.

Yes mistakes were made but where do we go from here?

F W Robertson

I wonder do we find some discouraged saints reading this message? Perhaps you have reflected on Chpt. Seven and wonder, can you really make anything of your life?

We will see from these verses how they turned the corner and once again became in New Testament language, victorious Christians.

The first thing they needed was a

When sin had been dealt with, when sin had been judged, repented of and cleansed then and only then did God bring the word of comfort.

We cannot have God’s comforting word and our sin, we must let go of one or we will loose the other. As soon as sin was dealt with God moved to reassure his broken, disappointed and discouraged people.

Remember when Peter had failed the Lord, the lord sent a message.

Mark 16:6-8 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. [7] But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. [8] And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

Yes the word of comfort was sent to Peter and here are God’s comforting words to his people Israel at this time.

Why did God say, "Fear not"? Was Joshua afraid?

Fear because of the past, fear because of now, fear because of tomorrow but God met him and said, "Fear not"

• Oh fear not your prayers are answered - Elisabeth and Zacharias .

• Fear not God’s plans are best - Mary and Joseph

• Fear not your position he can save and you can serve the lowly -shepherds

• Fear not there is provision in the precious blood for all of our sin.

1. Fret not - he loves you - (John 13:1).

2. Faint not - he holds you - (Psalm 139:10).

What a word it was, just what Joshua needed, perhaps you need to hear this today.

The Lord doesn’t need any spectators, God has something for you to do, praise God there is restoration but it is not to spectate.

If you truly mean what you say, if you earnestly desire God’s best for you, then it’s time to get committed.

Joshua 8:1-2 "see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: [2] And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it."

The battle was already over, victory was assured, what confidence they could face the enemy with.

Oh dear child of God, do we not need these timely words today?

Achan disobeyed and robbed God as we noticed in chapter seven, he lost everything.

Joshua 8:2 And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.

What God promised he was able to fulfil.

Can you see that by putting the Lord first they received reward and they were greatly blessed.

Here is an unbreakable rule, if you plant little you will harvest little. Is that why your life is barren and miserable dear believer?

Secondly with this reward before them they had an added incentive for service. Surely as we consider how the Lord will reward his faithful service we need no other incentive.

You will no doubt quickly realize that the tactics the Lord uses here are much different to those employed when facing Jericho, there it was a miracle, here it is by ambush.

Some would have to lie out all night as they hid from view, this would involve sacrifice. This is the modern equivalent of bearing ones cross.

Joshua 8:5-7 And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, [6] (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them. [7] Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.

Joshua and a small army of men will approach the city like before and when they come out they will turn around and flee as if they are being defeated.

Then the city would be taken while the men were away and the armies who have come out to fight Israel would turn around, be surrounded and defeated, quite different to the miracle of Joshua Chpt. Six.

Firstly the difficulties caused by sin.

This plan was complicated, difficult and hard, compared with Jericho which involved little military strategy, in fact none at all.

Why did this seem more difficult, let me say this, praise God when a believer sins, he has an advocate with the father, if he repents he can find cleaning and communion with the Lord but the way back is a difficult way.

Victory became much more difficult after sin was in the camp

David sinned, and he was never the same after it.

But let’s read the next verse.

2 Samuel 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

There is always a howbeit to our sin.

Not only do we notice the difficulties sin brings, but we also see that it is good for us to be aware of Satan’s devices.

Notice Joshua was sure that the men of Ai would follow them, when they fled, because this was the enemy tactics before.

They learned by experience, that is not a good way to discover how the devil works. It is better to learn by exposition as we study the word of God we come face to face with the old enemy.

Drive to destruction.

Cause us to betray the Lord.

Covetousness.

Sin must be repented off and we need to be careful not to leave Satan a forwarding address.

Ephes. 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Ephes. 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Joshua 8:14 And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.

The king of Ai falls for the ambush. God was able to hide thirty thousand men from the sight of this king. Oh what God can do for us when we are in his will.

With the city deserted others could go in and take it.

All were doing their bit for the Lord.

Joshua 8:20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.

The enemy gets the message they see the smoke.

What is there among all of this for us? Just one thought.

Some had the humiliating job of turning their back on the enemies, others had hidden and marched onto the city and burned it, others watched in case men would come from Bethel to help, and it was teamwork.

In v 21- Joshua saw the smoke from the city and then they moved forward.

We find yet another heap of stones [See Message on chapt seven.]

Joshua 8:29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

This reminds us that there can be victory after defeat.