In today’s reading, the conquest of the promised land begins with the siege of Jericho and the Israelite’s miraculous victory over the same. Yet immediately following they suffer a humiliating defeat at the city of Ai, and they learn a painful lesson: God is with them only when they are with God: obedience and victory go hand in hand. After searching out the guilty party that brought the disfavor of their holy God upon them, and ridding themself of him, the Israelites go forward again with renewed humility, and under Joshua’s leadership they win battle after battle, subduing the kingdoms of many peoples. In a moment of haste, they are tricked into sparing one of their enemies, the Gibeonites, with a pact, but quickly recover, making them water-bearers and hewers of wood to the Israelites for ever. They then move into southern Canaan, and in another miracle, Joshua defeats the Amorites and slays five of their kings, securing the land for the Israelites.

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission