Joshua 8:1-9 – The LORD’s Generous Gifts

In v1, God says to Joshua and to Israel: “I have given into your hand …” In v2, He says to them: “… its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves”. These words – coming straight after what we have seen in chapter 7 – highlight how completely pointless Achan’s covetousness was! Achan saw; and coveted; and took (7:21). If he had only obeyed God, he’d have received just as much and more. When the LORD’s priorities are recognised and fulfilled, He then gives to His people. When we do things God’s way, He blesses. He never seeks to impoverish His people. “Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (Ps. 34:10).

As Achan displayed, it is only as God’s people lose sight of His generosity and His provision and His goodness that the cancer of covetousness consumes them. This is the devil’s strategy. This is exactly how he tempted Adam and Eve in the garden. He placed all the emphasis on the restriction God had imposed, rather than on the abundant riches God had lavished on them in that garden (Gen. 3:1). The people of God today must still guard against this strategy. Recognising the LORD as the giving God is vital for faithful and obedient living. Contentment with God’s goodness can be a remedy against disobedience.

A further generous gift of God is His gentle and gracious encouragement in v1: “Do not fear and do not be dismayed”. After the previous chapter, Israel would have been fearful – as well as demoralised and humiliated. They had seen the awfulness of God’s burning anger in dealing with sin. But where there is godly sorrow and true repentance there will always be forgiveness. The grace of God says to Joshua and to Israel in these verses of chapter 8: ‘Because of sin, you made a mess of conquering Ai. Now go back and do it my way. And I’ll give it into your hands’. Sin is always wrong, but when it’s dealt with we can resume the battle.