The rest of the story is history: the strategy is carried out precisely, Israel defeats Ai and this time God allows them to plunder all the goods and livestock for themselves.
It’s important to notice how Achan, who unlawfully stole that which was forbidden, lost his life and all his family and possessions, whereas all the other Israelites who had denied themselves of any spoils of Jericho now inherited all the wealth and livestock of Ai. By restraining ourselves from that which is forbidden we get to enjoy all that God abundantly provides.
The final point of this lesson is to see what the Israelites did to the king of Ai:
Joshua 8:29 (NIV) He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.
The king who had previously defeated and routed Israel’s armies is now himself defeated and hung on a pole for open ridicule. At sunset, they take his body down in obedience to the law set forth in Deuteronomy 21:22-23 which says:
If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, 23 you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
The king on a pole! Cursed by God, defeated and held up to public shame! This makes us think of Jesus by way of contrast: the pure and perfect, holy and righteous Son of God, King of the Universe Who was treated as the worst offender ever, His body being hung up on a pole for all to ridicule, experiencing the curse of God in His own flesh, yet taken down at sunset and put into the grave. The King on a pole, cursed and crucified, buried at sunset, all for you and me!
Galatians 3:13 (NIV) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Ai was left as “a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day” (Joshua 8:28). And when we look at this world with all of its enticements, and our previous life of sin that held such a thrill for us, now, because of the love of our Savior for us, because of His cursed death in our place and powerful resurrection from the dead, this world has become for us a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate and lonely place. There’s nothing there for us!
Question 3. Was your faith increased through the study of God’s Word today? What are your thoughts?
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Kelly O. writes, "Absolutely. I had never noticed the king hung on a pole, experiencing the curse of God. Jesus, who didn’t deserve this, took the place of the king of Ai in a sense, so as to secure our victory! Imagine if Joshua had done this as the battle strategy, instead of holding out the javelin, he was hung on a pole and became a curse so that the Israelites would conquer Ai. This study just makes me see the cross of Christ with greater depth."
Karen writes, "Yes, my faith was increased. I love studying the Word and seeing how it all points to the finished Cross of Jesus Christ and the grace and abundance we have in His love."
Carol writes, "My faith is always increased by my study of His Word. Each time I am Learning more and more. Words I have read before now become clear. I see how it all fits together."
Amanda writes, "Yes, it was. The victory is already promised, and God is in control. God has a plan and if we will seek and follow that plan the victory will come. I've noticed in just about every one of these stories in Joshua, there is a landmark made and is still in place to this day, a remembrance, a memorial. We need to take note and even write down testimony of the victories and the not so easy lessons we have learned and ask the Lord to bring to remembrance, when we are going through trials, of His faithfulness and when we are tempted of the consequences of sin. Most of all we should look to the memorial of the cross that is still an ever present reminder of the love, grace, faithfulness, and mercy of God."
Kelly writes, "I love the way the flames of my faith were fanned into a burning fire through this lesson today. This last part of the lesson has really spoken to my heart with both conviction and encouragement at the same time. Each time I find myself slipping back towards the things of this world its like I'm looking for wealth in a pile of ruin. I'm turning from treasure to trash to find the treasure that I alreay had. How very foolish and blind I can be sometimes. I'm thankful that my eyes were opened again to see the "Pearl of great Price", Matthew 13:46, that is now mine."