What does the British Army of the Second Boer War, the Russian Army of World War I and the French Army of World War II have in common? They all entered battle unprepared. Overconfident, in 1899 the British Army brought their outdated, colonial warfare techniques to fight against an army with modern rifles and artillery. In World War I the Russians mobilized their troops by foot while the Germans made use of railways.
Famously, in World War II the French Army relied on the “Maginot Line,” a tactic utilizing a vast system of tunnels and underground bunkers. Unfortunately for them, those only work in static wars like the first World War. They were useless against the mechanized warfare of rapidly moving tanks and air forces.
History reveals that the common characteristic among leaders of unprepared armies, was arrogance. They were convinced that their experience, intellect, education and overall toughness would win the day. Instead, they led their soldiers, and ultimately their countries, to failure to the tune of millions of lives. The same mistake took place consecutively in Joshua seven and eight.
The account of the miraculous victory over the fortified city of Jericho ends with the words, “So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land” (Josh. 6:27). Shortly after, Joshua sent men to spy out the small town of Ai but did not seek the Lord. His men reported back, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few” (Josh. 7:3). The result of their presumptive pride was death and a humiliating defeat.
Having learned his lesson, Joshua fell on his face before God. The Lord helped Joshua get his house in order and then said, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land” (Josh. 8:1).
This time it was the king of Ai that acted with hubris. A portion of the Israelite army pretended to flee again from them, causing “all the people who were in the city…to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. Not a man was left…who did not go out after Israel” (Josh. 8:16-17). The city was left unguarded, resulting in its destruction.
The Bible tells us that Christians are also at war. They “do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Our ultimate and final hope is an eternity in peace, but until then we are required to be prepare for war.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Cor. 10:3–6)
Believers are called to “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). Are you a faith fighter? Could you list the ways in which you are preparing for battle or are you proudly assuming your experience, intellect, education and overall toughness will win the day? Do you put all on the whole armor to “stand against the schemes of the devil,” or are they full of dust and rust? Make ready now so that history does not show that, in the end, you were unprepared.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Tim. 4:6–7)