(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Joshua 8:1–2, “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: 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.”
Joshua’s credibility as a leader had been shredded when Achan refused to follow the battle orders that Joshua gave before the battle. He had to confront the families of the people killed in the battle and finally followed the proper procedures and dealt with the issues caused by Achan. But what was he to do now? He confidence had been upset by the disaster and he could have retreated from his duties. However, the Lord brought him back to the place he was when he first assumed the leadership of Israel. The Lord told him not to fear but to obey. The Lord told him not to fear again but to go forward with confidence. His job, as general, was to lead his armies into battle and the Lord told him to do his job. Just because he faced a setback the Lord had not removed his commission to lead Israel through the invasion of the Promised Land. Joshua was to act in the same way as he had acted before he went to Jericho and attack Ai. In the first attack the Lord intervened in a miraculous way so that both Israel and the Canaanites would know that the Lord was directing and causing this campaign to prosper. In this case, Joshua was to use his military skills. Skills that he had already used to great effect under the Lord’s supervision.
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