Joshua 8:18-29 Taking authority in the spirit realm brings victory to our circumstances

Joshua 8:18-29

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” So Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city. 19 The men in ambush rose quickly from their place, and when he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it, and they quickly set the city on fire. 20 When the men of Ai turned back and looked, behold, the smoke of the city ascended to the sky, and they had no place to flee this way or that, for the people who had been fleeing to the wilderness turned against the pursuers. 21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and slew the men of Ai. 22 The others came out from the city to encounter them, so that they were trapped in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side; and they slew them until no one was left of those who survived or escaped. 23 But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua.

24 Now when Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field in the wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them were fallen by the edge of the sword until they were destroyed, then all Israel returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword. 25 All who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000 —all the people of Ai. 26 For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. 27 Israel took only the cattle and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had commanded Joshua. 28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day. 29 He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening; and at sunset Joshua gave command and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the city gate, and raised over it a great heap of stones that stands to this day.

Background

The impetuousness and foolishness of the king of Ai caused total annihilation to the population of Ai. For he over extended himself being too eager to take down the Israelites the second time. Joshua on the contrary approached the battle in authority and vigilance of the Spirit. Today’s passage teaches us in all our endeavors to take authority over the visible and the invisible and to stay vigilant until the end. As the believer reads the bible and obeys God’s instructions faithfully, God entrusts greater authority to him to fight his battles. The outcome of our battles is determined by the battles fought in the invisible.

Observation

Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai…

The Lord as conductor of the battle dictated when the ambush should take place. Joshua was Israel’s leader designate, but the Lord was Captain of the heavenly hosts. The javelin in the hand of Joshua was the symbol of authority just like the staff in Moses’ hand. When Joshua stretched out the javelin, the powers of heaven and earth were unleashed against the powers of darkness. The city of Ai was quickly captured and set on fire.

When the men of Ai turned back and looked…

What took the wind out of their sails was not the might of Israel, but it was the sight of a burning city defenseless against the onslaught of heavenly forces. The men of Ai were sandwiched and slaughtered by the men of Israel who acted as decoys and they slew them until no one was left of those who survived or escaped.

For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

The fact that Joshua did not withdraw his javelin throughout the duration of the battle reveals that the extended javelin was not just a signal. It was how Joshua’s authority and resolved was translated into the battlefield. Therefore, as long as the javelin was extended which required considerable physical investment on the part of Joshua, Israel continued to take the upper hand.

In an earlier battle with the Amalekites at Rephidim (Exodus 17:9-13), Moses knew the authority that was invested in him and stationed himself on the top of the hill with the staff of God. Hence, whenever he held his staff up, Israel prevailed, and when his staff was down, Amalek prevailed. Thus, Moses held his staff steady until the sun set and the enemies were destroyed. Joshua, being familiar with the ministry of Moses operated like his mentor by stretching out his javelin until Ai was utterly destroyed. Only this time, Israel was permitted to take only the cattle and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves.

Truth

In all our endeavors we must learn to take authority over the visible as well as the invisible. When Joshua stretched out his javelin, he was in fact taking authority over the visible and the invisible realm. Joshua was given charge not only over the Israelite forces but also over the warrior angels of heaven. His gesture of stretching out the javelin was a signal that unleashed the Lord’s army over the forces of darkness. Joshua used the javelin in the way that a music conductor uses his baton to conduct his orchestra.

Many churchgoers merely present their requests to God but do not take authority over their situation. Although most believers are taught the sufficiency of praying and entrusting everything to God, this is nevertheless the modus operandi of spiritual babes. More mature believers however, know the necessity of exercising dominion over the invisible forces in the battlefield. Whenever a believer submits himself under God, he receives divine authority and insights into the unseen. Joshua submitted himself under God’s authority by stretching his javelin towards Ai. Having proven himself as faithful, hosts of angels are given under his charge. In all of Joshua’s battles, angelic intervention had always been key to Israel’s success. The apostle Paul said,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood (the visible), but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (the invisible). Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13

More mature believers are given charge over the angels to wage war against the forces of darkness that plague families, communities and nations. Believers take authority by first seeking the will of God in the matter. Having received the word of the Spirit, we declare battle against the forces of wickedness according to the authority given by Jesus. We will soon see miraculous results in families that are dysfunctional, in the healing of the sick and in the breaking of curses.

The battle in the invisible realm was explicitly presented when the Aramean army surrounded the city that harbored Elisha. Elisha’s servant was petrified until his eyes were open to see the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kings 6:17). When Elisha prayed, the Arameans were struck with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Believers must increase in authority so that we may be given charge over the Lord’s army to do battle in the invisible realm.

Before we launch out, we must make sure we do not over extend ourselves. The king of Ai was too eager to take down the Israelites. Hence, he over extended himself by sending all his troops to pursue the Israelites. His mistake caused total annihilation to the whole population of Ai – 12,000 men and women. Many people suppose things will remain rosy forever, neglect to spend time building their family. People of various professions, even noble and charitable ones were overtaken by personal ambitions. Some wanted to escape the problems at home and personal issues found work as a convenient channel of distraction. They only realized to their regret the years of neglect that eroded their marital relationship resulting in separations and delinquent children. Believers must understand while one can fail in their job and move onto another, you cannot do the same to their family.

Throughout our battles, we must stay vigilant in the spirit. Joshua continued to have his javelin stretched out until the battle was won. The extended javelin was representative of a state of vigilance on the part of Joshua. His vigilance was what sustained the perseverance of Israel and the angels until the end. Many churchgoers thinking that Christ had won the war against the devil neglect to fight their battles that raged within them, their families, communities and their nation. They failed to put on the armor of God and to stay vigilant against the enemy throughout their Christian life. Some churches even taught their members to ignore and disregard the threat of the enemy supposing that as giving undue attention to the devil. This teaching is a gross misunderstanding of the finished work of the cross. To stay vigilant, the believer must do the following:

– Read the word daily and to integrate God’s truth into his life.
– Receive God’s instructions daily and to accomplish them.
– Persistently pray for the church, for his family and for the nation.
– Guard against deceptions and temptations in daily endeavors. Actively seek God’s will and walk in it.

Application

  1. Are you facing a certain struggle in your work or family? Learn to take authority over your circumstances by reminding yourself that you are a son of God and entrusted with authority to exercise dominion over yourself, family, career and the community. Armed with this understanding, exercise that authority by doing and persevering in what is right and what God has instructed. Do not fear the opinion and threats of men. Having done so, give thanks and witness the power of God being manifested in your situation.
  2. Are you accustomed to being aloof at home and being constantly occupied with work and personal hobbies? Such that your family is not able to connect with you. Perhaps, you should make some changes to your focus and priorities before it is too late.

Dear Lord, help me to be sensitive to the things unseen and the promptings of your Spirit. Guide me in your paths and grant me the authority to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.


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