Extension of the LORD’s Grace 

Even after the first fatal failure by the second-generation Israelites due to Achan’s sin, the grace of the LORD continued to abound. Not only did the LORD give a second chance, but also injected courage to Joshua again. Besides, the LORD, by factoring in Israel’s first defeat to Ai people, provided a new set of war strategy – Ambush (Joshua 8:2). This is our God: God who extends His grace and gives us a new strategy everyday to live a victorious life.

Military Genius

With the introduction of an ambush strategy by the LORD, Joshua, as an innovative military officer, improvised and improved the strategy by adding an element of luring. Note that the LORD God did not specifically tell Joshua how to lure the enemies out to have a successful ambush strategy. Joshua with his prior experience and military prowess, however, developed his own specific implementable tactics to maximize the LORD’s strategy. He chose 30,000 men of valiant warriors and 5,000 of them were set in ambush between Bethel and Ai.

Having tasted their first victory against Israel, Ai soldiers went all out to meet Joshua and Israel, leaving its city empty. Israel pretended to be beaten and was chased by Ai soldiers. With the sign of Joshua stretching out the Javelin, however, 5,000 ambushed men took over the unguarded Ai city, which created terror and panic to Ai soldiers, who initially chased Joshua.

Once and for All

As soon as Joshua saw the beginning of the successful ambush, he was determined to “crush the enemy” once and for all. “Crush the enemy” was one of the key strategic messages by Sun-Tzu, the author of the Art of War written around the 4th century in China. About 2300 years later, from the 1930s to the 1940s, two leaders were battling for the supremacy of China. The leader who practiced this strategic tenet better than the other eventually rose to lead the whole China. 

Mao Tse-tung, the Communist leader, and his 75,000 soldiers were pushed into the desolate mountains of western China by a better-equipped, larger army led by Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the National Revolutionary Army in 1934. Over the next three years, Chiang Kai-shek relentlessly pushed the Communist army, reducing their size to fewer than 10,000 soldiers. By 1937, when China was invaded by Japan, Chiang made a mistake by judging the Communists were no longer a threat, and started to concentrate only to repel the Japanese. While Chiang was occupied with the Japanese, Mao slowly, but firmly, rebuilt the Communist army. Mao eventually gained enough strength to defeat Chiang ten years later. Mao fully deployed Sun-Tzu’s wisdom of “crush the enemy” by completely destroying the National Revolutionary Army in China mainland and until all remnants had fled to the island of Taiwan. Mao practiced this wisdom whereas Chiang, when he had a chance in 1937 to completely crush Mao, failed (48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene).

As Mao did when he repelled Chiang out of the mainland China, Joshua fought as if there would be no tomorrow. 5,000 ambushed Israel soldiers and 25,000 soldiers surrounded the Ai army front and back. Determined to finish the battle with Ai this day, Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until Israel had completely destroyed all inhabitants of Ai, including the king (Joshua 8:26). 

A complete destruction of enemies in a single battle, though it can be an exhausting task, served as a paramount importance. First, Israelites were in a foreign land. A quick, thorough ending of a battle reduces their vulnerability against other nations. Second, as an example of Mao and Chiang demonstrated, remaining enemies have a potential to muster and strike back. Tragically, during the period of Judges, Israelites often were attacked and suffered from the remnants of Canaan nations whom they failed to destroy prior.

This may be a strange message. Remember: crush your enemies. For the followers of Christ, enemies are any thoughts or ideas or institutions that are contrary to the character of God. Anything that entices you to sin, crush that “anything” as Joshua did to Ai.

Celebration – Dedication to the LORD

A character of men is manifested by what he does in a position of pinnacle. In the world, an army general, after a huge victory such as the battle of Ai, would march in a celebration parade. I do not necessarily imply that a celebration parade is detrimental. In fact, soldiers, who fought to protect the nation, deserved to be honored. My point in this chapter highlights the humility that Joshua demonstrates to give honor to the ultimate provider of the victory – the LORD God.

Therefore, I want to say that the highlight of the chapter is this latter part (verses 30 to 34), not the brilliant strategic and tactical execution of Israel in defeating Ai. After the victory, Joshua and Israel walked 10 to 15 miles to Mount Ebal to obey the command that God gave through Moses. There on the mountain, Israel built an altar to offer burnt and peace offerings to the LORD. Then, he personally wrote a copy of the Law of Moses – we do not know how long this took – in the presence of ALL, including all the sons of Israel, priests, officers, judges, and the strangers.

Let’s imagine this scene. After the war victory, the highlight of the celebration was to write God’s Law on the stone in the presence of everyone. The victory of the war was to lead everyone in Israel to know the LORD more, to love Him and to honor Him. Joshua fully obeyed. 

How do you celebrate your victory?