Under Joshua’s leadership, the Israelites watched the walls of Jericho miraculously crumble and then they won a resounding victory over Jericho’s army. They were on a high that comes only to those who get to be a part of a God-sized win. Joshua sent a small force in to take the next city, Ai. They were nothing compared to Jericho. Defeating Ai looked like a piece of cake for a people fighting on God’s side.
But that’s not what happened.
“So, about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water” (7: 4 – 5).
Joshua was devastated. He “freaked out” and went to God with a prayer that you may be able to relate to. It contained these sentiments (7: 6 – 9):
- Why have you let this awful thing happen to me/us
- I should have never thought anything good would ever really happen to me/us
- This whole thing was a big mistake on my part
- Forgive me. I’m a loser; this is so embarrassing for you and everyone else
- They are going to do us in and your name, God, is at stake. What in the world will you do now without me/us to make you look good?
Have you ever been confused by defeat in a small battle after winning a big battle?
Sometimes God enables us to take a big leap and we think, “This is it, God’s going to really open doors for me now.” Then something unexpected and often horrible happens.
Joshua’s prayer was not a formal rehearsed prayer. It was a prayer of someone confused and afraid. He just poured it out not thinking about how silly some of it sounded. That’s how you need to pray when your righteous plans go awry. Be honest with the all powerful, loving God of the universe. He already knows what you need, and he saw what you did or said or thought. Give it up to him.