ISRAEL DISCOMFITED BY THE MEN OF AIa.
Josh. vii. 8. 0 Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies !
UNINTERRUPTED prosperity is not to be ex- pected in this changeable and sinful world. Even
a Fast-day Sermon for disappointments and defeats in war.
the most favoured of mankind must have some trials ; nor is there any season when they can presume to say, " My mountain standeth strong ; I shall not be moved." If at any time Joshua and Israel might adopt this language, it was immediately after they had entered on the possession of the promised land, and had received an earnest of the complete enjoy- ment of it by the miraculous destruction of the walls of Jericho. Yet behold, scarcely had they tasted the first-fruits of God's mercy, before a cup of bit- terness was put into their hands ; which made them regret that they had ever attempted the conquest of the land.
In an attack upon Ai, a detachment of Israelites had been defeated with the loss of thirty-six men : and this filled them all with such terror and dismay, that the whole nation, not excepting Joshua himself, gave way to despondency. Of this we have an ac- count in the passage before us : to elucidate which, we shall notice,
I. The discomfiture of Israel —
Their mode of proceeding to the attack of Ai was
far from right —
[Having so easily vanquished a much larger and stronger city, they held Ai in contempt, and concluded of course that God must interpose for them just as he had done in the former case. Hence they say, " Let us send only about two or three thousand thither, and not make all the people to labour thither." Now in this they were guilty of very great presumption. To confide in God was right ; but to expect his aid, whilst they neglected to use their own endeavours, was highly presump- tuous. And what excuse had they; what plea? None, except that they did not choose to fatigue themselves with the march. They did not even consult God respecting it ; but acted purely from their own conceit. What was this, but to tempt God ? And how could they hope to succeed, when acting in such a way ?
However favoured any man may have been with divine suc- cour and protection, if he presume upon it, and enter into temptation without necessity, and conceive that because his spi- ritual enemies appear weak, he shall of necessity overcome them; if he neglect to use the proper means of grace, such as searching the Scriptures and prayer to God, he shall fall : God will leave