Joshua was famous. Feared in all the land.
In battle he was victor. On him was God's own hand..
Jericho was captured. The walls came tumbling down.
Now Ai was their target.They'll soon be on the ground.
Not all the men are needed, two thousand men or three,
Their numbers are so few, we'll soon have victory!
Their army was defeated. They never got inside.
Ai chased them to the slope, thirty-six there died.
Joshua tore his clothes and fell upon his face.
"Why has God now brought us to this fateful place?
The Canaanites will hear of this and all the others too!
For your great Name here, Lord, whatever can you do?"
God's voice spoke out; "Stand up! Why fall upon your face?
Israel has sinned. This theft you must erase.
Call out all your people, every Tribe and Clan.
Every single household, Every single man."
Achan, son of Carmi, confessed he'd done the crime,
A bar of gold, some silver. The right thing at the time.
He also had a mantle, beautiful to see.
His deed had cost them all one day a needed victory.
They found the stolen goods; laid them for all to view,
Then took them all to Achor. What were they now to do?
"You brought great trouble on us. God has this to say,
'To pay for this that you have done you'll have to die today'."
All the people stoned him and burned the loot with fire.
They then stacked the stones and made a funeral pyre.
God's wrath was sated; Achan died. It all now seems so cruel,
But who are we to question God? His ways, His power? His rule?
A battle plan was given. An ambush soon was set
Ai thought a victory they could easy get.
They emptied all the city. Gave chase to Israel.
Joshua raised his sword quickly the city fell.
The soldiers burned it to the ground. All the people fled.
Victory complete. Twelve thousand people dead.
Today, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood" (Eph.6:12)
But rulers,powers, and evil forces,sweeping like a flood.
Check the movies. Look at the books. Evil everywhere.
We need to wear full armor. Protect ourselves with prayer
A sword, a shield, a helmet.A breastplate well in place.
So we can win in battle, whatever we might face.
Joshua 7