Joshua 7:4-6
"So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads."
Prior to the battle of Ai, Joshua was careless and didn't seek the Lord. But the defeat at Ai brought the hearts of the leaders back to God. They thought that God was with them until they suffered a defeat. Had the Lord left them? If so, how should they continue the warfare? Not only this was a huge setback for the Israelites, it was a greater setback for the leaders, especially Joshua. After all, Joshua was a man of God, and he gathered all the elders to the Lord. What a great example this is to us. When you face difficult situations, the first thing you should do is neither having crisis meetings nor finding faults. Instead, you need to come before the Lord and seek His face. Joshua led the elders of Israel and did a few things:
Firstly, they tore their clothes and sprinkled dust on their heads, which represents their attitude of repentance. They did not find fault with each other but confess own sins before God, and even do it on behalf of the Israelites. Just like Nehemiah, but he saw that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, he confessed his own sins, saying "Lord, I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's family." From the human point of view, what did he have to do with Jerusalem? But at that time at that place, he was confessing his sins on behalf of the Israelites, similar to what Joshua and the elders did. Sometimes God placed this burden to confess on behalf of others in us so that we would temporarily bear the sins of other in order that His righteous may reveal and His healing may come.
Secondly, they fell facedown and remained there till evening, waiting for God to speak. Repentance alone is not sufficient; we need to understand the will of God and His way of doing things. Waiting here refers not to random and short waiting, it refers to long wait, and here in this passage of scriptures, it is till evening. And since they seek the Lord, they understood the will of God. Dear brothers and sisters, are you seeking the will of God? May the Lord teach us to seek His face and wait for His guidance.
Pray with Pastor Tong
Dear Lord, I pray for those that are seeking Your will. Please do not hide Your face from them. May the Spirit of the Lord touch them right now, that they may see Your deeds and understand Your will. I thank you and I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!
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