RECOVERING FROM FAILURE

The Book of Joshua #10

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

JOSHUA IS AFRAID

(Joshua 8:1–2, NLT) “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take all your fighting men and attack Ai, for I have given you the king of Ai, his people, his town, and his land. You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep the plunder and the livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the town.”

1. TRUTH BEARS REPEATING

(Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT) “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

(Joshua 1:9, NLT) “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

2. MY CIRCUMSTANCES, GOOD OR BAD, MAY BLIND ME TO TRUTH

(2 Peter 1:12, NLT) “Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught.”

(Philippians 4:4, NLT) “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

3. AFTER A FAILURE, SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE LEARN AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD

(Joshua 8:3–4, NLT) “So Joshua and all the fighting men set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 of his best warriors and sent them out at night with these orders: “Hide in ambush close behind the town and be ready for action.”

a. Joshua obeyed the Lord

b. God’s promises and power are given to the obedient

(Joshua 8:8, NLT) “Set the town on fire, as the Lord has commanded. You have your orders.”

c. Joshua’s passion led him to prayer

(Joshua 8:18, NLT) “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Point the spear in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the town over to you.” Joshua did as he was commanded.”

(Joshua 8:26, NLT) “For Joshua kept holding out his spear until everyone who had lived in Ai was completely destroyed.”

(John 19:34, NLT) “One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.”

4. PRAYERFULLY KEEP GOD’S WORD AT THE CENTER OF YOUR HEART AND HOME

(Joshua 8:30–35, NLT) “Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal. He followed the commands that Moses the Lord’s servant had written in the Book of Instruction: “Make me an altar from stones that are uncut and have not been shaped with iron tools.” Then on the altar they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. And as the Israelites watched, Joshua copied onto the stones of the altar the instructions Moses had given them. Then all the Israelites—foreigners and native-born alike—along with the elders, officers, and judges, were divided into two groups. One group stood in front of Mount Gerizim, the other in front of Mount Ebal. Each group faced the other, and between them stood the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant. This was all done according to the commands that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had previously given for blessing the people of Israel. Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instruction. Every word of every command that Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them.”

a. The tribes were divided in two between two mountains: the mount of blessing and the mount of cursing.

b. The tribes from the sons of Rachel and Leah.

c. The tribes from their handmaidens.

d. We are standing between two mountains: Mount Calvary and the Mount of Olives.