Having cleansed the people of Israel through the death of Achan, God now turns God's attention to the city of Ai in Joshua 8. God, the strategist, tells Joshua to set an ambush, the main army will draw the army of Ai out of the walled city, and then the second Israelite army will attack the city and take the army of Ai from the rear. This is God the warrior at the finest.
In the telling of this story, perhaps there are a couple of sources as at one moment the ambush will comprise 30,000, while at another the ambush will comprise 5,000. Either way, the tactic proves successful as Israel rather easily defeats Ai.
Perhaps God has even learned from previous encounters, as the rules of victory and spoils are changed. While all people are to be put to the sword, livestock and spoils can be taken by Israel.
The victory leads Joshua to establish a sign of the covenant. He erects an altar on Mt. Ebal, which is to the north of Ai, and opposite of Gerizim. The force that controls Ebal and Gerizim will control the region. At the altar, Joshua offers a sacrifice to God in front of all the people of Israel, half on Gerizim and half on Ebal. Joshua then read the Law, including the blessing and curses that Moses had offered, and Israel was reminded of the Covenant that was struck with God.
Evidently, the overwhelming victories in Jericho and Ai have caused quite a stir in the land of Palestine. According to Joshua 9, nations choose two courses of action, first they band together in an alliance against Israel and second they resort to trickery. The 9th chapters deals with the latter as we hear about how the Gibeonites pretend to be a people from far off who come seeking to make a treaty with Israel.
When Israel finds that they have made a mistake, they have two choices. They can either go against the word they have sworn to God to make a treaty with them or they can go against God's commands to expel all the people's from the land that God has given them. They decide to keep their word made to the Gibeonites, but will treat them as slaves.
The region that the Gibeonites inhabited were the mountain region further to west of Jericho and Ai. This places them in the middle of what will be Israel, not an ideal situation for the Israelites.
Romans 12
Since Paul has taken great pains to list out how both Israel and Gentiles come to their salvation through faith and trust in God, he know exhorts the recipients of the Letter to live in such a manner. They are not to consider themselves above others, for Paul has proven that whether Gentile or Jew, all have fallen short of God's holiness.
Paul urges the Roman church to live faithful lives that conform to God's will and not the world's. To bear fruits fitting of those who follow Jesus Christ. To be in solidarity with others, for we are all one body formed in Jesus Christ. The goal of the Christian community is to live at peace with itself, in the unity of the Spirit. The goal of the Christian community to the world is to bear witness to the new life formed by grace the God found in Jesus Christ.
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