With the sin in the camp correctly taken care of, Joshua and the army of Israel is ready to tackle the city of Ai once again. They had loss the first battle due to the sin in the camp. Now they had God’s plan and have prepared accordingly.
The city of Ai represents the flesh in bible typology. We first hear about Ai as Hai in Genesis 12. There Abraham pitched his tent between Bethel (House of God) and Hai, (heap of ruins). It is interesting how people stake their lives between God and ruin. Unwilling to commit fully to either living just enough in both to appease their conscious.
Our story is one of Ambush. When part of the army attacked the city the defenders came out to fight Israel’s small army began to run as before. When the defenders pursued, Israel’s reserve army seized the defenseless city and surrounded the defenders.
We see God’s plan was followed and the promised victory accomplished as they pursued their enemy. To preserve the victory a memorial was built to help them remember.
Today let us follow God’s plan and camp in the House of God. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
