Sermon Notes - Joshua 8 - Littleby Baptist Church - September 28, 2025

1.       One person coveted something that belonged to God.

a.       Ignored the commands of God.

b.       And brought judgement on the Israelites.

c.       Thirty-six men lost their lives.

d.       They had God’s commands in writing to follow.

e.       They knew judgement would fall if they did not listen.

f.         Yet, someone still sinned against God.

2.       When they sought God.

a.       He told Joshua how to find out who turned their back on God.

b.       They followed God’s leading.

c.       He led them to who was at fault.

d.       The people then followed through with the judgement that God said was required.

3.       As we pick up in Chapter 8…

a.       They may be wondering if that was enough.

b.       Was God going to return His blessing to them.

c.       Were they now on their own?

4.       Joshua 8:1a

a.       Do not be afraid or discouraged.

b.       A common message from chapter 1.

c.       A reminder.

d.       Things have not changed.

e.       God did not need to repeat everything from the last seven chapters.

f.         Just a quick refresher.

g.        A reminder that Joshua did not need to be afraid.

h.       To not be discouraged.

i.          That God was with him.

j.          That he was not alone.

5.       We don’t need to be ‘resaved’ every time we sin.

a.       We simply need to remember that our Jesus has died for us.

b.       He has wiped away all of our sins, past, present, and future.

c.       He has given us a new life.

d.       We don’t need to relearn everything.

e.       We just need to remember how great the gift is.

f.         How amazing our God’s love is.

6.       Joshua 8:1b-2

a.       God is going to deliver the people of Ai to Israel.

b.       A more traditional battle plan this time.

c.       Set an ambush out back.

d.       Be prepared to do what I say.

e.       Destroy all the people.

f.         You will get the spoils this time.

7.       Joshua 8:3-9

a.       Thirty thousand troops, to put this in perspective there were 40K sent by the 2 ½ tribes whose families stayed on the other side of the Jordan.

b.       There are 12 tribes.

c.       This was a small number of troops for Israel.

d.       But all of Ai’s population was only 12,000.

e.       Now, go and wait.

f.         We are going to lure them out.

g.        When they chase us.

h.       Set fire to the city.

i.          Destroy it.

8.       Joshau 8:10-11

a.       Moved the bulk of the army in place.

b.       Bet that got the people of Ai’s attention.

c.       Some probably panicked.

d.       Others might have thought it was no problem like last time.

e.       We handled them once; we can handle them again.

9.       We tend to think we can do that.

a.       Take care of something on our own one time and we should be able to handle it no problem the next time.

b.       We don’t need God for that.

c.       Thinking like that is a slippery slope that can get us in to trouble.

10.  Joshua 8:12-13

a.       Another set of troops set in place.

b.       A trap is set.

11.  Joshua 8:14

a.       Ai wanted to defeat Israel.

b.       They had likely heard about Jericho.

c.       They thought God was going to take their land and give it to Israel.

d.       Yet, they got a taste of victory.

e.       Maybe they thought their fear was for nothing.

f.         Maybe they could win after all.

g.        They beat Israel once.

h.       They can beat them again.

i.          It could happen.

j.          Proverbs 16:18

12.  Joshua 8:15-16

a.       It looked like history was repeating itself.

b.       Maybe Ai was routing Israel.

c.       They seemed to think so.

d.       They seemed to think they were defeating them a second time.

e.       With what they knew it was a reasonable conclusion.

f.         But they only saw things from a worldly perspective.

13.  A risk we face.

14.  If we only look at things from the perspectives, we humans have, we are going to miss seeing what God sees.

a.       We will miss seeing things with Godly wisdom.

b.       If we let the Holy Spirit lead us.

c.       If we lean on His perspective.

d.       We see a lot more.

e.       We need to lean on our God.

f.         Asking for His wisdom.

g.        His knowledge.

h.       Trusting in His leading.

i.          That is the only way can really see.

15.  Joshua 8:17

a.       The plan God laid out was working.

b.       The people of Ai were chasing Israel.

c.       They emptied the city.

d.       They thought they had them beat.

16.  Joshua 8:18-19

a.       This is where God intervened.

b.       God gave Joshua and the army success.

c.       They captured the city.

d.       Then followed God’s plan and set fire to it.

17.  They trusted God.

a.       We are to trust in our God.

b.       Let Him work in us and through us.

c.       Stepping out in faith.

d.       It is amazing what our God can accomplish in us and through us.

18.  Joshua 8:20-23

a.       God was faithful.

b.       He delivered Ai into the hands of Israel.

c.       Victory was theirs.

d.       They let no one escape, just as God commanded.

e.       The king was captured.

19.  Joshua 8:24-25

a.       Complete destruction.

b.       They are listening to God.

c.       They did not want a repeat of Jericho.

20.  Joshua 8:26

a.       This is similar to Moses holding the staff as Joshua was leading the army.

b.       Joshua extended his javelin while the men fought.

c.       God faithfully delivered the people.

d.       This is not a play by play, so we do not have all of the details.

e.       When Moses held his staff up every time it slipped the Israelites lost ground.

f.         We don’t know if that was the case here.

g.        But it does tell us that Joshua held his javelin up during the battle.

h.       Maybe it was the same as Moses staff, maybe it wasn’t.

21.  We need to be diligent in how we serve our God and others.

a.       It is a daily act of service.

b.       It takes commitment.

c.       It takes us living our faith each and every day.

d.       Purposefully being witnesses as we are commanded to be.

e.       Loving others always.

f.         When we are strong.

g.        When we are weak.

h.       Always.

i.          Living our faith each day.

22.  Joshua 8:27

a.       They took what God gave them.

b.       The rest was sacrificed.

c.       They learned the lesson.

d.       At least for now.  

23.  We can normally say the same.

a.       We experience something and for a time we learn something.

b.       We grow from it.

c.       For a time it sticks.

d.       Other times we slip into our old ways.

e.       We need to ask our God to help us to learn and to hold on to that lesson.

f.         For it to stick and not slip.

24.  Joshua 8:28-29

a.       Israel had been separated from God.

b.       But one defeat.

c.       One failure.

d.       One sin.

e.       Does not signify the end.

f.         It does not mean they or us for that matter are no longer useful to our God.

25.  We are going to sin.

a.       But that is not the end, Amen!

b.       Our God can and does still use us.

c.       We are to repent and pick up the pieces and follow Him.

d.       Letting Him use us.

e.       Wherever He needs us.

26.  Joshua 8:30-31

a.       Instead of marching off to the next battle, they take time to honor God.

b.       To do something that they were commanded to do.

c.       Deuteronomy 27:1-8

d.       God has been faithful.

e.       So they were faithful.

f.         They built an altar.

g.        They offered sacrifices.

h.       Maybe from the first fruits from the battle with Ai.

i.          They gave to God out of what God gave to them.

j.          They thanked God for the blessings He had given them.

27.  Joshua 8:32

a.       How much of the Law?

b.       Who knows.

c.       Somewhere between the Ten Commandments and all of it.

d.       That really is not important.

e.       The important part is that they were doing what God wanted them to do.

f.         They followed what God called them to do.

g.        A common theme over the last couple of chapters.

h.       We are to be faithful and do what God calls us to do.

i.          Even when it is hard.  

28.  Joshua 8:33-35

a.       The Word of God was read to all the people.

b.       It is important that we focus on God’s Word.

c.       It is His Word that is the Truth we need.

d.       His Word that points to the glorious future.

e.       His Word that warns of how horrible it may be if we reject the gift Jesus is offering.

29.  Taking time in God’s Word helps in so many ways…

a.       Helps us to look at things from God’s perspective.

b.       To diligently serve God and others.

c.       Helps the truth we are to live stick.

d.       Helps us to remember that while we are going to sin, that with Jesus as our Savior we are not lost.

e.       That Jesus’ blood has paid our debt.

f.         That His resurrection has given us new life.

g.        Helps us to trust in our God when we are not sure what is going on.

h.       Helps us to overcome fear and discouragement.

30.  Are you spending enough time in the Word of God to help you through these things?

31.  Are you spending enough time talking to your God so that you know you are not alone as you walk through the challenges life brings your way?

32.  As Christ followers we need to spend time with our God.

33.  If you do not know Jesus and would like to, I would love to talk to you about Him.