It’s often helpful to begin with some background so we can better understand the passage before us. We live today—thankfully—in a largely peaceful time, but the biblical period we are looking at was very different. In those days, conflict was frequent, and enemies were often dealt with violently. This can make parts of the Old Testament challenging to grasp, so it’s worth exploring the context to appreciate what was happening.
God had promised the land of Canaan to the people of Israel during the time of Abraham. In Genesis 17, we read of God’s covenant with him: the land where Abraham lived was to become the Promised Land, given to him and his descendants forever. God pledged to be their God, and in return they were to be His people, obeying His laws. As long as they did this, He would guide and protect them.
Moving forward to around 1885 BC, a famine struck the region. Abraham’s grandson Jacob led his family out of the Promised Land and into Egypt, where Jacob’s son Joseph had risen to power. The closing chapters of Genesis tell this story in detail. Over time, however, the Israelites fell into slavery and remained there for 400 years until God called Moses to lead them back to the land He had promised. Moses died before entering, leaving Joshua to guide the people into Canaan.
By this time, the land had been inhabited for centuries by the Canaanites, who lived in separate kingdoms under their own rulers. Scripture describes them as people who practiced violence, idolatry, sexual immorality, and even child sacrifice. Because of this, God declared that they were to be driven out and judged (see Deuteronomy 7 and Leviticus 18). This element of the story can be difficult for us, but the Israelites were commanded to act only under God’s direction, not according to their own desires.
Last week you looked at the fall of Jericho. God instructed the Israelites to march around the city, and after seven days the walls collapsed. Everything in the city was to be destroyed except for Rahab, the prostitute who had sheltered Israel’s spies. All valuables—gold, silver, bronze, and iron—were to be placed in the Lord’s treasury. But one man, Achan, disobeyed and secretly kept some items for himself. His sin brought judgment and trouble on the Israelites, and he and his family were eventually put to death.
Soon after, Joshua also failed to consult God before attacking the next city, Ai. Spies reported that a small force would be enough, so Joshua sent only 3,000 soldiers. But they were defeated and forced to retreat, leaving the people discouraged and afraid. Realizing their mistake, the Israelites repented. Once they sought God’s direction, He gave Joshua new tactics: a larger force of 30,000 men and a strategy to draw the people of Ai out of their city, allowing a second group to capture it from behind. This time the Israelites were allowed to keep some of the plunder.
After this victory, the people gathered to renew their commitment to God. As instructed by Moses, they built an altar on Mount Ebal, placed the Ark of the Covenant in the valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, and read aloud the laws of Moses. Half the people stood facing Mount Ebal, a barren and rocky mountain symbolizing the curse of disobedience. The other half faced Mount Gerizim, a fertile and fruitful mountain representing God’s blessings for obedience. The visual contrast made the choice before them unmistakable.
From this history, several lessons stand out. First, it is easy to rely on our own understanding rather than seeking God’s guidance. We sometimes make decisions without prayer or reflection, assuming we know best. Yet God calls us to depend on Him rather than on our wealth, security, or possessions. In our culture, it is tempting to place our trust in material things, but Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6 to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth.
Second, we must be careful not to assume that God will always lead us the same way He has in the past. Joshua discovered this at Ai: what worked at Jericho did not apply there. Likewise, the church today must be open to God guiding us in new ways, even while honouring the faithful practices of the past.
Third, while the Old Testament often describes violence and judgment, Jesus offers a different way. In Matthew 5, He teaches us to love our enemies and do good to those who oppose us. We live among people who may disagree with us, and our calling is to demonstrate love, kindness, and forgiveness—just as Jesus has forgiven us.
Finally, we must continually recommit ourselves to God. Like a baby dependent on an umbilical cord, we need daily connection with Him through prayer, Scripture, and obedience. Jesus summarised the greatest commandment: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. This is how we live faithfully today, in a world very different from Joshua’s, yet still in need of God’s love.