The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?” – Joshua 7:9

Today's Scripture Reading (March 29, 2025): Joshua 7

Sun Tzu is credited with writing his Chinese military Treatise, “The Art of War,” sometime during the 5th century B.C.E. The work is composed on thirteen chapters with each chapter relating to a different skill set that Sun Tzu (Master Sun) believed was necessary in any winning strategy employed during a conflict. But what might be the most surprising element of “The Art of War” is that this treatise on how to win a war in antiquity is still a document that many contemporary generals read and use.

Some of the modern uses of Sun Tzu’s military tactics include the idea of “Shock and Awe” or “Rapid Dominance.” Shock and Awe was used during the Gulf War. Sun Tzu’s phrases his ancient advice on this tactic saying it is the "selective, instant beheading of military or societal targets to achieve shock and awe." 

Another piece of advice from the legendary Chinese General is that the goal of any conflict should always be “to subdue the enemy without fighting” (Sun Tzu). Another way that Sun Tzu says this is that “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle” (Sun Tzu). The master tactician is speaking about the thing that a lot of armies still try to achieve. We call it peace through strength. It is the hope that the enemy will believe that our power is so overpowering that they will just lay down their weapons and surrender. In the modern era, it was what Russia hoped would be the result when they began their full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. 2022. The hope was that Ukraine would be overwhelmed by the Russian military and simply surrender. But that didn’t happen.

Israel entered Canaan and defeated the fortress of Jericho. It was a surprise victory, maybe especially from those living in Canaan. Yes, Jericho had feared Israel, but they also took precautions against Israel because of that fear. Mybe the most appropriate description is that that Jericho had a healthy respect for Israel and took certain precautions; their defeat was not due to taking Israel lightly. So, it was expected that the rest of Canaan might simply run from them. However, then sin altered the equation as it so often does and the next battle against the town of Ai, which should have been a rout, turned into an embarrassing Israelite defeat. Joshua was concerned, and angry with God. Everything that had been won at Jericho had been compromised at Ai. Now, instead of surrendering in fear at the approach to the Israelite conquerors, the inhabitants of Canaan would know that the invading army was fallible and could be defeated. It was precisely the reverse of the image that Joshua wanted to project. And Joshua knew that he had to get to the reason of the defeat before the armies of Canaan surrounded Israel and expelled them from the west side of the Jordan River.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 8