Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat Joshua 8 1. A New Start - Joshua 8:1,2 2.A New Strategy - Joshua 8: A New Success - Joshua 8: A New Commitment - Joshua 8:30-35

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat I.New Start (8:1,2) A.A word of encouragement 1.Results of Failure Discouragement Fear 2.Answer to failure Hearing God’s Word Believing God’s Word 2 Chronicles 16:9

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat I.New Start (8:1,2) cont’d B.A word of instruction 1.God always has a plan for His people Take all the people Lay an ambush 2.Victory always comes by OBEDIENCE God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him. When we run ahead of the Lord we usually rob ourselves and hurt others.

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat I.New Start (8:1,2) cont’d C.A word of promise 1.“I have given” is the promise. 2.But… promises are only good when mixed with faith. Hebrews 4:2

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat II.New Strategy (8:3-13) A.God changes His leaders lest we begin to trust in man. B.God changes His methods lest we depend on personal experience. C.The strategy for Ai was based on Israel’s defeat. D.The plan was opposite that for Jericho.

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat III.New Success (8:14-29) A.The city emptied (8:14-17) B.The city captured (8:18-20) C.Army & people destroyed (8:21-29) D.The king slain (8:23,29) E.The spoils claimed (8:27)

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat IV.New Commitment (8:30-35) A.Joshua built an altar (8:30,31) 1.The history - Genesis 12:6,7 & 33,34 2.The place - Galatians 3:10-14 Mount Ebal – “mount of cursing” 3.The method - Exodus 20:25 4.Sacrifices assured God of Israel’s commitment and fellowship

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat IV.New Commitment (cont’d) B. Wrote the law on stones (8:32-33) 1.External – in obedience to Moses as in Deuteronomy 27:1-8 & 4:8 2.Internal - the Word of God written on our hearts by the H.S. Romans 8:1-4

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat IV.New Commitment (cont’d) 3.Reminders in monuments Gilgal (4:20) – God keeps His Word & blesses Achor (7:26) – God expects His people to obey Ai’s entrance (8:29) – God’s faithfulness to help His people Mt. Ebal (8:30) – Success only lies in obedience to God’s Law

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat IV.New Commitment (cont’d) C.Joshua read the law (8:34,35) 1.Tribes assigned places facing the ark Mt. Gerizim (blessing) - Leah or Rachel Mt. Ebal (cursing) - Zilpah or Bilhah 2.God had given the Law Through Moses at Sinai Explained by Moses on the Plains of Moab Reaffirmed by Joshua in promised land

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat Application “There is always Hope” Hope springs from true repentance and confession Hope is always only in Christ

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat Application Just like Israel, today we stand in the valley Mt. Ebal’s curse removed at Mt. Calvary Mt. Gerizim blessings received at Mt. Olivet Indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit…….. gives power & strength to live in the valley