Get Up!

And the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, O LORD God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! O LORD, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” (Joshua 7:5-8, 10-13) After Israel’s defeat at Ai, Joshua was devastated. He tore his clothes, fell facedown, and questioned God’s intentions. Instead of asking what had gone wrong, Joshua assumed the worst. God’s response was firm and loving: “Get up!” Like a parent addressing a child in a tantrum, God called Joshua out of despair and into responsibility. God plainly revealed the sin and explained why they had failed. Twice God said, “Get up!” God does not want us wallowing in despair; He wants repentance and reconciliation. Here’s the thing…How often do we assume motives instead of asking God to search our hearts? David understood this well when he prayed, “Search me, O God” (Psalm 139:23–24). And we get to choose…we can choose to wallow, or we can ask God to correct us. Wallowing leads to stagnation; correction leads to restoration. May we choose humility, repentance, and obedience when God says, “Get up!”