Joshua Chapter 8: Verse 1
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.
After their victory in Jericho, the Israelites got too cocky and thought they could fight the people of Ai
in their own strength. They didn’t seek God’s will and they got routed. But it was God’s intention for them to conquer Ai, they just jumped the gun. When the time came and God said go up, they were discouraged by their earlier defeat, so God spoke reassurance to them once again.
Sometimes we jump the gun and pre-empt God’s plan for us. Sometimes that means we get our fingers burned because the time isn’t right and we get discouraged. Thankfully God doesn’t give up on us and He gives us another chance. There is a totally different outcome when we do things in obedience to God rather than in our own strength. God knows what He is doing much more than we do.
Dear Lord,
Help me never to get too cocky or self-assured, especially when I’m doing something for You. Help me to seek Your will and to be patient if I need to, until You say the time is right. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.