From Victory to Defeat

Israel had just experienced exhilarating victory over Jericho. Then they suffered defeat at the hands of a much easier army. The battle of Jericho represents a believer's victory over outside influences that challenge us. Believers can experience victory over such things as smoking, drugs, and sexual exploits, but there is yet another battle over which victory is also necessary - an internal struggle within. Joshua 6 (the battle of Jericho) depicts how we can have victory over outside influences and Joshua 7 (the Battle of Ai) depicts how we can often lose battles with influences from within us - such as pride and over-confidence. Believers sometimes become over-confident and only pray when they face a trial. Or they develop other types of arrogance that pretends they don't need God (or to regularly study His Word.) Joshua 7 serves as a great warning against this inner battle that we must also win, in addition to our "Jericho victories."