THE Bible contains many instances in which failures have been turned into stepping-stones to success. In most of these cases the failure was merely the preliminary to a successful bout with evil.
In the story of Joshua we find a vivid example of this. Upon the death of Moses, Joshua became the leader destined to guide the children of Israel into the Promised Land. He had singular success until he turned his forces on the city of Ai. We read that the men of Ai gave the first defeat to the Israelites. When Joshua heard this, he fell on his face. His fear because of this failure made him wish to be back across the Jordan. But the Lord spoke to him (Josh. 7: 10, 11): "Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them."
Then Joshua arose to find the sin of Israel. And when he had discovered it— the failure to obey a command not to loot —he cast out the offending member and once again attacked the city of Ai. This second attack was successful; the children of Israel conquered Ai.
