first reaction

Joshua 7:6-9 (JDV)

Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of Yahveh until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads.
Joshua 7:7 “Oh, Lord God,” Joshua said, “why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites for our destruction? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan!
Joshua 7:8 What can I say, Lord, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies?
Joshua 7:9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the land. Then what will you do about your great name?”

first reaction

Joshua should have known better. His first reaction to the incident at Ai is to blame God.

Truth is, that is our first reaction when bad things happen to us all too often. Instead of stepping back and looking at a hard situation rationally, we look for someone to blame. If we were to go back over the history — as Joshua should have — we would see that God has warned us about all that might happen should we choose the wrong side.

Lord, you are great and good. Forgive us our failures, especially the tendency to blame you for our problems.