Joshua

Joshua 8: God gives Ai and His law

Begin in prayer

Before hearing of Ai’s destruction and the law read to the whole assembly, please pray together. Ask God to help both adults and children hear His Word and see Christ.

Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Yahweh brought you out from this place.

Exodus 13:3

Father, please help us hear Your Word with care, as the women and little ones heard it in Israel. Open our eyes to see Christ and our need for Him. Make us more like Jesus, and bless our family as we read together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

After Israel's defeat, God tells Joshua not to be afraid and commands an ambush at Ai. Joshua draws the men out, and the hidden men enter and set the city on fire. Israel takes Ai and destroys its inhabitants, and the people take its livestock and spoil as God commanded. Joshua builds an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal, where burnt offerings and peace offerings are offered. He writes a copy of Moses' law on stones and reads all its words, the blessing and the curse. The whole assembly hears, including the women, little ones and foreigners among them.

As you read Joshua 8, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God gives Israel Ai and gathers them to hear His law.

After Achan's sin was dealt with, the LORD told Joshua not to be afraid, for He had given Ai into his hand (verse 1). This time Israel could take the goods and livestock for themselves, and they were to set an ambush behind the city (verse 2). Joshua sent thirty thousand men to hide behind Ai, and the people camped on the north side (verses 3 and 11). When the king of Ai came out, Israel pretended to flee, and the men of Ai chased them (verses 14 to 17). At the LORD's word Joshua stretched out his javelin, and the hidden men took the city (verses 18 and 19). Israel destroyed Ai as it had Jericho, and took only the livestock and goods, as the LORD said (verses 24 to 27). Moses had said that the LORD drives out these nations for their wickedness (Deuteronomy 9 verse 4). Then Joshua built an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal, as the law of Moses commanded (verses 30 and 31). He wrote a copy of the law on stones, and read all its words to everyone, even the little ones (verses 32 to 35).

How does Joshua 8 show us that God gives Israel Ai and gathers them to hear His law?

God gives Ai into Israel’s hand.

The LORD told Joshua not to be afraid, for He had given Ai into his hand (verse 1). This time Israel could take the goods and livestock for themselves (verse 2). The men hidden behind the city took it when Joshua stretched out his javelin at the LORD's word (verses 18 and 19). Israel took only the livestock and goods, as the LORD had said (verse 27).

Joshua builds an altar as Moses commanded.

Joshua built an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal, as the law of Moses commanded (verses 30 and 31). Burnt offerings and peace offerings were offered on it (verse 31). Priests offered the same sacrifices again and again, but Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10 verses 11 and 12).

Women and little ones hear God’s law too.

Israel gathered between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, half on each side of the ark (verse 33). Joshua read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse (verse 34). He read every word before the whole assembly (verse 35). The women, the little ones and the foreigners among them heard it too (verse 35).

Memorise

Afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

Joshua 8:34

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I hear God’s Word as someone who needs Jesus?

Joshua read every word of the law, the blessing and the curse, with the women and the little ones listening. The law shows how holy God is and how far we fall short. Jesus kept the law in every word, and He went to the cross for sinners.

Christ redeemed His people from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for them (Galatians 3 verse 13). Priests offered the same sacrifices again and again, but Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10 verses 11 and 12). Nothing more is needed. On the third day He rose.

Hear His word today, and turn from your sin. Trust Jesus, and come to Him with your whole need. He receives those who come to Him, and He forgives their sins.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD gave Israel Ai, and that even the little ones heard His law. Parents, please explain verses 24 to 29, where Ai is destroyed, as the LORD's judgment then and no pattern for war today. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His Word and for Jesus, who obeyed it, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so give them time to pray if they wish.

This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me.

Psalm 119:50

Lord, thank You that the little ones heard Your law with the whole assembly. Please help our family listen carefully to Your Word. Teach each of us to turn from sin and trust Christ, whose sacrifice is enough. Help us make time to read Your Word together this week. Amen.