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Victory and Defeat

We will continue in the correspondence between Baram and his father, who is helping the rest of the Israelites enter Canaan.

Baram!
You will never guess how Adonai conquered Jericho for us! For six days we marched silently around the city, but on the seventh day Adonai delivered Jericho into our hands! Again, we arose early and began marching around the city, but instead of circling it only once, we marched around it seven times. On the seventh time around the city, the priests blasted their trumpets and all of the soldiers began to shout. You can't imagine what a deafening sound it was as thousands of men shouted and the trumpets blasted! Then we all gave one very loud shout, and the walls collapsed! We all rushed over the broken rock and mortar and entered the city from every side…

1. What specific instruction got Israelites before entering Jericho?

Read Joshua 6 (6:16-19).

Shalom, Abba,
I love your stories from the Promised Land. I'm sure that every battle will be as easy as conquering Jericho. We don't even have to fight! Adonai fights for us! The God of Israel rules. I can't wait for your next letter. Please write soon.
Baram

2. Before reading further answer following question: What do you thing, was it true? Was every following battle as easy as conquering Jericho?

Shalom, Baram,
I have good news and bad news. The good news is that Ai has been destroyed, every last person. Our people plundered the city's riches and took all the livestock too. The bad news is that 36 of our men died in battle and one in camp. Let me explain. Without seeking Adonai's advice on this matter, Joshua sent about 3,000 soldiers to take Ai. Our army went up against the city, but the men of Ai came out ready for battle and quickly overpowered our army. Thirty-six of our men were killed, and the rest turned and fled. The survivors came back to camp and the whole camp was confused, discouraged, and distressed. We did not understand how we could be beaten especially after our victory at Jericho. Joshua and the elders of the camp went before the ark and stayed there the whole day. Finally, Adonai revealed the cause of our defeat…

3. What was the cause of their defeat?

Find the answer in Joshua 7 (first half).

… Joshua told us to consecrate ourselves; the next day Adonai singled out the one who had defiled the camp by taking things from Jericho. It was Achan. He took money, gold, and a beautiful robe. Before the day was done, Achan and everything that belonged to him were destroyed. Soon after that, Adonai instructed Joshua to take the whole army and attack Ai…

4. What was the strategy for conquering Ai this time?

Read Joshua 8:3-22

5. Can you think about something that has been most like a Jericho experience in your life? And what has been most like an Ai experience?

6. Choose numbers that were used in Joshua 8:

41,000
36,000
50,0000
5,000
3,000
136,000
1,000

Prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you want to lead me. Please let me see your leading and help me to follow."

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