After Achan's sin within the camp is purged, the Lord commands Joshua and his army to conquer the city of Ai. Earlier, they had tried to do so, but had failed miserably (Joshua 7:3-5). God was not with them in that first battle because of Achan's sin (vv. 11-12). This time, the Lord instructs them to keep part of the spoils of war for themselves (8:1-2). If only Achan had obeyed the Lord's previous commands a few days earlier (see 6:18)!

As the men of Ai try to counter-attack the Israelites, Joshua holds out his javelin towards their city (8:18). This action mirrors what Moses did when he held up his hands while the Amalekites were attacking Israel (Exodus 17:8-12). As long as Moses kept his hands raised, Israel prevailed. When he lowered his hands, the Amalekites prevailed. No wonder Joshua keeps his javelin in the air until all of Ai is obliterated (Joshua 8:26).

A total of 12,000 men and women from Ai are killed in the attack. After waiting for decades and centuries for the inhabitants in Canaan to repent and turn to Him, the Lord God commands this earthly judgment. What are we to think of this? How should we respond?

When Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw its ignorance and rebellion, He wept (Luke 19:41). Let us not forget that the Lord God knows everyone. And not only does He know, but He also cares. He cares deeply, and He loves infinitely and eternally. Yet, if anyone rebels against Him and flagrantly breaks His commandments (which are designed for humanity's protection), they will have to face judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). Still, the Lord God will do everything possible to change their heart and mind: He does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Unlike Achan, may we readily, immediately, and happily choose to know the Lord our God, to repent of our sin, trust Him, believe Him, and obey Him at every turn. This is the pathway to God's blessings in life.