After the darkness and the pain, God restores himself to us. Joshua 8:1, “And the LORD said to Joshua, "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.” God rebuked Israel at Ai, previously. Now, after Israel’s repentance, there's the cool waters of the gospel and the refreshing breeze. After chastisement comes mercy.

Bless God for his patience and kindness. He wasn't cruel to us. Pain was an act of his love. He had to get our attention, so he rebuked us. Joshua 7:5 - "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." He had to turn us from sin. We could not walk together in disagreement, so he broke us with chastisement and pain.

Now, however, the singing comes, and we are confident. He's not avenging and angry! Isaiah 54:8 - "In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer." He's ready to help, desirous to bless us, and he's fully on our side. Don't take hard times as permanent. Don't think rebuke means the absence of love.

Secondly, God gives victory out of defeat. Joshua 8:6, “And they will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city. For they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us, just as before.’ So we will flee before them.” He set up an ambush. He let the enemy think they were winning, but when they came out of the city, another group burned it with fire. Likewise, God brings victory out of our defeats.

He lets us fall, even as Adam, and he redeems us for his glory. He allows us to sin, then smites us, so that he can heal us with pardon. Isaiah 19:22 - "And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them." The forgiven sinner LOVES God and brings glory to his name. Humility is born from defeat, and faith in Christ increases.

Do not despair that you are at the bottom. The wheel turns, and bringing good from evil is God’s speciality. Look at his Son. The most evil act of mankind was our path to redemption. He makes many missionaries by dredging us from the sewer of sin. Harlots, like Rahab, have become valuable in the lineage of Christ. Utter failures have learned to give him glory, and wasted lives have been made laborious and useful. Joseph’s brothers meant it for evil, but God meant it for good, even our falls and the painful chastisements we endured. He brings humility out of great pride being humbled, and embarrassed. He makes many people clean after they’ve tasted and loathed their sins. Good preachers are made in the factory of failure, after we’ve tried everything else. God is a God of redemption. Let us take heart.

Thirdly, true leaders are among their people. Joshua 8:9, “So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people.”

Leaders in the gospel don’t sit in ivory towers. They know sin and salvation. They understand joy, deliverance, and struggle. They fight the good fight of faith, and lead by example.

The Lord Jesus is the greatest leader; he is the Captain of our salvation. He walked the path before us, bearing up under wrath, as he trusted in God his Father. Psalm 22:2 - "O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest." He knows what it’s like to trust the Father and get no answer, to suffer, and to rely on God in the dark. He’s walked the path before us. He knows what it’s like to be a Man and conquer. He was in all points tempted, yet faithful.

Look to your Captain, and know that he is with you. Not only is he high and exalted, but he dwells in your broken heart. Not only is he ruling the world, but he’s in you by the Spirit. He is fighting on our behalf, and he’s here to help us. He has not forsaken us to fend for ourselves. John 14:18 - ""I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." He is the Helper that we need, the example, and the atonement: he is all sufficiency, and we have enough to fight and win.