Joshua 8:18-35. Sorry for the lateness of this post. It is the beginning of a new quarter in our Sunday School class and there was a lot of extra work for that so I had to do my quiet time (Daily Bible reading this evening).
Yesterday we found Israel engaged in a battle with the city of Ai. The main body of the troops attacked the city and then ran when the soldiers of the city came out to fight. Eventually all of the people of Ai (at least the soldiers anyway) chased after the Israelites leaving the city defenseless.
In today’s reading Joshua gave a signal and some troops waiting to ambush the city rushed in and took it and set it on fire. The men of Ai were trapped between the two groups of Israelites and were killed. Eventually the Israelites returned to Ai and killed all of the people, 12000, and took the animals as a reward “”according to the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua”.
Joshua then took the Israelites 25 miles to the north to two mountains where he built an altar (a place to sacrifice animals or other objects to God). He had some of the Israelites stand on one of the mountains and some on the other. Large stones were set up and covered with lime, a white substance, and then all of the commandments of God were written on the stones. The Law was read to the people and they were told of the blessings (good things) that would happen if they obeyed the Law and the curses (bad things) that would happen if they disobeyed the Law. Offerings were also made, burnt offerings and peace or fellowship offerings. This was all done according to what Moses had commanded the people just before they crossed the Jordan to enter the promised land (Deuteronomy 27-28).
The burnt offerings were whole animals that were burned entirely as a symbol of the price of sin (Exodus 29:18). According to Exodus and Leviticus the smoke of this offering was a “soothing aroma to the LORD”. It might seem odd that God is soothed or quieted by the smell of a burning animal. I think that you need to keep the whole process in mind. This offering shows to God that we know the consequences of disobedience (sin). Those consequences are death, separation from God for eternity. Three times in Mark that separation is described as being in a place where “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44,46,48). So I think God is soothed or quieted because he sees that we are getting real about our sins.
On the other hand only parts of the fellowship or peace offering (Leviticus 7:11-15) were burned on the altar. The rest was eaten by the priest or the person making the offering. In Leviticus 3:1-17 twice the part of this offering that is burned is referred to as food for God (vv. 11,16). Obviously God does not actually eat food. The picture here is one of living in peace or fellowship with God.
The total picture here is one of the Israelites getting serious about their relationship with God. They learned what offended God, they admitted their guilt and did what God said to do about it, and then had a renewed relationship with Him. 1 John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins that God is faithful and right to forgive our sins and clean us from our disobedience. Turning to God pleases Him and he is there waiting to have a new relationship with Him. Lord thank you for your kindness. Thank you for Jesus who was the ultimate sacrifice for my sin. I am sorry for the destruction that has had to be done to keep me aware of my sins. I am sorry for the pain you suffered for me. Help me be obedient each day to the things that make you happy. Let my life be the soothing aroma to you. Thank you for being there always waiting.