Joshua Chapter 8 – Between Bethel and Ai
Hidden between Bethel and Ai was the secret plan of God to give victory to Israel. Unknown to residents of Ai, tens of thousands were hiding in ambush, west of their doomed city, waiting to turn it into a ruinous heap (9-12, 28)
Several hundred years before, the father of faith had pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai after receiving God’s promise that his descendants would inherit Canaan. And it was there that he first called upon the name of the LORD (Gen 12:7-8).
Ai was a name given posthumously after the city was reduced to ruins, the meaning of the name being “heap of ruins”. Bethel on the other hand, means “House of God’ but it only came into existence two generations later when Abraham’s grandson Jacob gave the name to the city of Luz (Gen 28:19). It was with purposeful intent that the Bible used these two names anachronistically in association with Abraham.
The land of Canaan was but part of God’s greater plan to give Abraham and his seed the entire world (Rom 4:13; Heb 2:5,16), a secret plan conceived in eternity:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” [1 Cor 2:7-9]
The historical Canaanites were but a picture of rebellious humankind in worldwide rebellion against the LORD, led by the kings of the earth (Ps 2:1-3). From the Pharaohs of Egypt to the Caesars of Rome, the rulers of this age persecuted the people of God.
But when the time came for God to judge the rebellious nations, Christ appeared in weakness to be intimidated and killed (2 Cor 13:4) which turns out to be a disarming of the power of death (Heb 2:14)! The king of Ai who went out to battle against Israel, courting his own doom, being ignorant of the hidden plan of God (14-24) was precisely acting this out beforehand!
There now appears two clear choices for humanity – the anointed pillar of Bethel or the dilapidated heap of Ai.
Choices continue to be made by us as God’s people. The chapter closes with two clear choices for us as well – blessings announced on Mt Gerizim or curses on Mt Ebal (30-35).
One Law/Torah. Two choices/outcomes.
