Weekly Meditations: Joshua

Joshua 8

Main Idea/Themes

This chapter describes the victory over Ai and the covenant renewal that occurs after the battle. The main theme of this chapter comes at the end where Joshua renews the covenant with the people, reading the terms of the covenant along with the blessings and curses. This chapter reenacts what happened in Deuteronomy when Moses read these terms, half the people stood on Mt. Gerizim and half at Mt. Ebal. The Lord gave Israel victory over Ai after previously losing against them in the previous chapter. Joshua set up an ambush against the city to take them out. Since Ai had one so easily in the first battle, pride took over when they saw Israel coming and fleeing once again. They thought surely they had another victory over a foolish people. They did not realize the ambush until it was too late. Then Joshua writes two tablets of the law just as Moses had received from the Lord and read it to all Israel. 

Literary Structure

 V1-29 Ambush and victory at Ai

V30-35 covenant renewal ceremony 

Application

Joshua 8 reminds us that when God is with us, anything is possible. When Israel attacked Ai the first time, God was not with them and they lost severely. Here in chapter 8, God was with them and they came out victorious because it was God’s will for these things to happen. In their victory, Joshua did not have them celebrate with a great feast or party. Instead they worshiped. They built an altar and made offerings to God. Then Joshua read the terms of their covenant, reminding all Israel who gave them victory that day. When we have victories in life, we first need to praise the one who gives us success. It keeps us humble and it keeps us grounded in truth and not in delusion that we gained our own success.