Whenever Christians start something new like a job, singing for the first time in front of the congregation, or if we just run into trouble, sometimes we quickly and frequently turn to God for comfort, wisdom, guidance, competence, and peace. Unfortunately, once we start getting comfortable with our new jobs or we are singing up in front of people for the 50th time we tend to turn to God much less. In being more comfortable, I find myself turning to God less. This is also what Joshua and Israel did.


In Joshua 26: 2-5, Joshua and Israel are told by the Lord what they have to do in order to overthrow Jericho. God gives them a set of directions to follow to take down Jericho and they follow and do as the Lord said. I’m sure if in any way they verged from the path of the Lord the outcome would’ve been significantly different. They listened and turned to God and were victorious because of their obedience.


Just as they obeyed God and defeated Jericho, we too need to obey God and defeat Satan. If we’ve been born again we are already victorious but that doesn’t mean Satan sits on the bench and leaves us alone. We are targeted more than ever by our adversary. This is why we need to allow the Holy Spirit to take over and not allow one weak moment. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” In whatever it is that we are doing, no matter how comfortable we get, we need to always glorify God and not get complacent. Whenever we get complacent and let our weak worldly flesh take over we become Israel and Ai. While high on adrenaline Israel completely forgets God as we often do when life gets too easy. They don’t turn to God and in so doing they are unaware of Achans theft. They go straight into Ai without Gods divine direction. Israel is so far removed from God they don’t even know they’ve angered Him. Since the went into battle without God, they fail. Achan fails Israel, and Israel fails God. All because we leave God on the bench and let Satan hit the ball out of the park.
Psalms 81:11-12 “So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!”


‭ Without the helping hand of God man is completely corrupt. God wants us to turn to him in our times of prosperity just as much as times of struggles. Psalm 81:13 “Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!” God is overwhelming willing to keep us safe as long as we don’t forget about Him.


Finally we either listen to God and be like Israel and Jericho, or we follow the flesh and fail like Israel in Ai.