“Ambush” means an attacker is hidden in an unexpected place to take someone by surprise. Before we tell you this story, we remind you that it is one of God’s Old Testament stories. God has written it so that we may learn from it, but today we do not go out to attack others as God’s people were told to do before Jesus came. The New Testament tells us of Jesus our Savior who came to suffer and die for sinners like us, and Jesus said, “Follow Me.”
“Ai” was a small name for a small city. Israel had just conquered the great city Jericho, so of course Ai would be easy. A few thousand soldiers could settle that little problem. No need to ask the Lord about that!
Are you a good person with just a few sins - not very many at all? You can handle a little problem like that without Jesus. . . or can you? Read this story and you might change your mind. Israel went up to fight against Ai and ran away defeated. Not only that, but thirty-six of their men were left dead on the ground -defeated! - and Ai was a small city.
Joshua, the leader of God’s people, was down in the depths of despair, but he took his problem to the right place - God -and He had the answer. We will skip part of the story and then tell you God’s plan to conquer that small city.
Thirty thousand men were sent out at night to lie in ambush behind the city, watching and ready for the signal to rise. Then Joshua and his men attacked the city in plain sight, and the soldiers of Ai rushed out to chase them. They were probably saying to themselves, Hurray for us! Let’s defeat those Israelites again! But there was one important thing that they did not know. Joshua knew, and his men knew, but the soldiers of Ai did not know about the ambush behind the city. They were doomed and did not know it. To them it looked like an easy victory.
God knows your heart too. He knows you are a sinner, and His promise of judgment against sin is unbreakable. Maybe you feel that this is your time of fun, but God has promised judgment to come.
Nobody told Ai about those men in ambush, but God is telling you right now of His judgment soon to come. God had no plan of escape for Ai, because they were wicked and had already made their choice against God, and He has not changed. There is still a way of escape for you, not because God will forget to punish you, but because Jesus Himself has taken all your fiery judgment upon Himself, but only if you will come to Him now. His perfect love casts out fear. Yes, the judgment is real, but we know that our Savior and His love for sinners is real. Will you thank Him for this without waiting a moment longer?
The men of Ai probably shouted for joy as every man from the city rushed out to chase their attackers. But the men in ambush kept watching Joshua. When he stretched out his sword toward Ai, they had their signal, and every one of them rushed to the city and set it on fire! The chasers suddenly found themselves chased and turned around to see their city ablaze! . . . hopeless! . . . no place to run! Nothing but total defeat and no survivors.
God wants you to know this story because right now there IS a place for you to run. Jesus said, “Come unto ME” (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)), and in the strong, loving arms of Jesus you will find safety forever. If Jesus is your Savior, the judgment of God against your sin is behind you, not ahead of you. And in Christ you will find a great deal more than just safety. The love of God and His wisdom and power have no end and no boundary, and it is all for you. Will you trust Him now? Judgment to come is not a risk but a certainty! Our God keeps all His promises. We have found Him to be our Savior for today and forever.
Think About God’s Word!
1. What victory did Israel win just before reaching Ai?
2. Did you ever brag about something and then discover later how wrong you were? What instruction does Proverbs 27 give on boasting?
Project: The Bible has a lot to say about where we should put our trust and confidence. How many verses can you find on this subject? Start your search in Psalm 20.