Sometimes, a sudden, unexpected victory could make you underestimate your future challenges. This is more probable when the initial victory came with little or no effort; little preparation yet massive results.
Israel had conquered Jericho by divine direction. The next on the way was the country of AI. So, Joshua sent two spies to the country just as he had done with Jericho. They returned and asked Joshua to send two to three thousand men to fight the city because it was small compared to what they had seen in Jericho. In fact, to them, sending more than 3000 soldiers to AI was a waste of human resources (Joshua 7:2-5). Joshua did, and the result was a scorching defeat of the Israeli army and the despair that followed.
The first verse in the chapter shows that the sin of Achan in taking the accursed thing was the major cause of such a painful defeat, the first for Israel since Joshua took over the leadership office from Moses. However, in the next verses, I observed another reason besides the sin of Achan – the poor estimation of the enemies by the spies that were sent.
These spies were fresh off the victory in Jericho, so with excitement, they undertook their assignment. When they arrived in the land of AI and saw their infantry capacity, they considered the enemies to be few. What a false assurance! What a culpable certainty! What a grave underestimation of a people you don’t know their military capabilities, even if they are truly few. Even Joshua believed their report (without enquiring from God) and did not go to fight with the soldiers. I perceive that God does not answer certain prayers for stressless success because the recipients would relax and never prepare to maintain what they have received.
Another reason the spies adduced for sending 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers was that they didn’t want to weary the whole army. I understand that these men had to go around the Jericho walls a few times, but that was all they did. God gave the city into their hands without anyone lifting a spear, running from a sword or arrows. So, what weariness were they talking about? This is the life of a lazy man who yawns and stretches himself all day as if he had fought with a lion, but he had been sleeping on his couch. God is productive and only rested on the seventh day after creating the world.
Certainly, God can deliver with a few soldiers, as he did in the time of Gideon, but if God doesn’t say so, plan like a man of war and deploy your full strength to capture the enemy’s fields. Notice that in the book of Joshua 8:1,3, God asked Joshua to go fight the same people of AI with ALL THE PEOPLE OF WAR WITH HIM. God was with him, but he needed all the people who could fight to go with him to secure the victory. You have a responsibility to achieve success. You have skin in the game of life. There is a role you just play for the next level you desire and the next territory you wish to conquer – deploy yourself and all your resources to see through it.
The report from the spies to Joshua also lacked faith in God. No reference was made to the fact that God was with them and would grant them victory. It all seemed that victory was by the arm of the flesh. Compare their response with the response of Caleb and Joshua in the book of Numbers. While the former considered the enemy’s abilities inferior and not requiring any faith in God, the latter understood the gravity of the situation, but their faith was in God. No wonder the results were different. Learn to repose your trust in God in all things and at all times. You may make a mistake in your assessment, but the Lord will strengthen you against your enemies.
Israel lost thirty-six soldiers, and the rest took to their heels as they were chased down the foot of the hill by the men of AI. With such disarray, everyone’s heart in the camp melted in fear and became as unstable and doubtful as water. They were discouraged as a result of that scorching defeat.
Sometimes, because we barely prepared and had great results, we poorly assess the next challenge and are tempted to think that it requires less preparation. You will be shocked at how you would fail in the lesser exam than the harder one. The mercy and grace of God is not a substitute for adequate preparation.
Many have underestimated the rage of the defeated enemies for revenge. You shouldn’t be afraid, but know that the powers of darkness are enraged, and if it took a certain level of preparation to defeat them at first, surely you should prepare even more now. Never underestimate your enemies.
When things go smoothly, when you experience sweatless victories, do not assume that the next challenge(s) will go away without a fight. Jericho is past. AI is present. Prepare adequately for your next challenge.
