Joshua 8:18-20

Joshua 8:18-20 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire. And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. God gave Joshua a clever plan to destroy Ai. Joshua sent 30,000 men to ambush the city. They hid themselves near the gates of the city well out of sight. Joshua led all of the other soldiers openly towards Ai. The men of Ai felt brave after their victory a few days before, so they came to face Joshua and his army. After the first skirmish, Joshua and his army turned tail and ran towards the wilderness. The people of Ai shouted for victory and took out after Joshua right down to the last man of the city. But after everyone left, the ambush rose up and torched the city. When the people of Ai saw the smoke rising, They knew their city was on fire and their hearts melted. But when the men of Israel saw the smoke rising, they gave a shout, for God had delivered Ai right into their hands. As Joshua and his army turned from their fleeing, his ambushers arrived from behind, and Ai was caught in the middle and totally annihilated. Joshua and all of Israel saw the hand of God and the blessings of God. “Ain’t God good to give us so many blessings?”