January 30th, 2026

Read Joshua 8:1 NIV

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.

Yesterday, we learned just how seriously God takes sin. Today, we see what happens when God’s people repent…God keeps His promises! 

God gives Joshua the ok to go and attack Ai a second time. Only this time, He is with them and has already given them the victory; they only need to follow in obedience. In the end, the city and the people are taken and destroyed, the king is captured and then killed, and this time, the livestock and treasures are given to the Israelites to keep with God’s blessing. AND all of it was done in accordance with what God had commanded them to do.  

What a difference this time around! We can clearly see what following God’s lead and full obedience to Him can do.  I also love that through it all, we get to see an example of God’s love. Sin had certainly come between God and His people – but repentance changed everything. All was not lost! In fact, God poured His blessing out in forgiveness, keeping His promise to His people in their victory. 

The same God loves me and you! He longs for our surrender to Him and for us to ask His forgiveness for our sins. His desire is to be with us and walk with us through every hard thing. His love and blessings are for us.