As Joshua 8 opens the people have been forgiven for their disobedience. Now God gives them the city of Ai. Joshua sets up an ambush for the men of the city. When Joshua and the elders come up to the city walls the men of Ai chase them toward the wilderness. Joshua’s army takes the city and burns it to the ground. The army of Ai sees the destruction and turns to go back but they are trapped by Israelites on all sides. All the people of Ai are killed except the king. The livestock and spoils are taken as booty by the Israelites, just as God commanded. Joshua burns Ai to the ground and hangs the king.

Joshua builds an altar to the Lord and they offer burnt offerings and sacrificial offerings of well-being to God. Joshua wrote the law of Moses on the stones of the altar. He read the entire law to the all people of Israel: men, women, children and resident aliens.

Many died in the first rout against Ai because they did not obey the law of God. Joshua wanted to make certain that everyone knew the law so they would not be disobedient again.

In Joshua 9 the kings of the rest of the Promised Land hear about Jericho and Ai and gather to fight against Joshua and Israel. But the people of Gibeon trick the Israelites instead of fighting them. They pretend that they have come from far away; wearing worn-out clothes and bringing moldy bread, and want to become Israel’s servants.

Instead of consulting with God they believe the Gibeonites and make a treaty with them. The treaty ensures that they will not kill the people of Gibeon. Three days later the Israelites find out that in fact Gibeon is close by. The Israelites could not attack them because of the treaty. Instead they make them their slaves. When Joshua asks them why they had tricked him they respond that they were in fear for their lives.

Romans 12 is one of the most well-known passages in the letter. Paul has confronted the issues facing the Jewish and Gentile believers, stating that none are righteous by themselves, all need the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Now he encourages them to become living sacrifices to God. Both the Jews and Gentiles are familiar with the meaning of sacrifice for atonement and in thanksgiving. Paul is saying that we should be the sacrifice through confession and service. He exhorts us to be transformed in our minds, not being driven by our selfish desires as those in the world, but being driven by the will of God.

We should recognize the gifts that each one of us has been given. We should live in community with one another with love, compassion, and service. None of us is better than the other and all deserve our care.

These words are good standards by which to judge our motives and actions. As we consider doing anything: whether inside the community of faith or outside in the world; it would be good for us to check to see if we are following these guidelines. They will help us to discern God’s will for our interactions with others.