We’ve all wished for a do-over.

Maybe it was a test you bombed in school, a project at work that went sideways, or words spoken in anger that you wish you could take back. Life is full of moments that make us long for another chance.

But what about when we fail spiritually? What about when the distance we feel isn’t just between us and other people, but between us and God?

Joshua 8 speaks hope. It shows us that God is not just the God of a second chance — He is the God of another chance.

When Israel Needed Another Chance

The story of Joshua 8 doesn’t make sense without Joshua 7. Israel had just conquered Jericho in a miraculous way — not through military strategy, but through obedience and worship.

But soon after, the people failed. A man named Achan secretly stole what God had declared off-limits. The result? Defeat, shame, and judgment. The chapter ends in the Valley of Achor — literally “the valley of trouble.”

Maybe you’ve been there. Sometimes our own choices put us in a valley. Sometimes life’s troubles expose what’s really in our hearts. Either way, the result feels the same: distance from God.

Joshua 8 is good news for anyone who has been in that valley. It shows us what it looks like when God gives His people another chance.

1. We Get His Sure Help

Once Israel dealt with their sin, God reassured Joshua:

“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged… I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai” (Joshua 8:1).

That’s grace. Before a new plan, before another battle, God promised His presence and help.

Too often we think we have to earn our way back to God after failure. We imagine if we read our Bible enough, pray enough, or clean up our behavior long enough, God might take us back. But the Bible says otherwise:

“Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

The way back is not through effort but through dependence on Christ. The good news? The moment you turn, God’s help meets you there.

2. We Get His Generous Gifts

At Jericho, God had forbidden Israel from taking spoils. At Ai, He gave them the plunder freely (Joshua 8:2). If Achan had only waited, he could have received what he had stolen — but in God’s timing and way.

Sin always over-promises and under-delivers. It promises freedom but enslaves, promises life but leads to death.

In contrast, God gives freely and abundantly:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3).

Ephesians 1 says believers already have every spiritual blessing in Christ — adoption, redemption, forgiveness, and the Spirit Himself. God isn’t stingy. He is generous, even when we’ve failed.

3. We Get His Solemn Warning

Verse 29 describes the king of Ai hung on a tree — a vivid symbol of God’s judgment. It echoes Deuteronomy 21:23:

“Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

It’s a sobering reminder: sin destroys. It destroys our lives, our relationships, and ultimately it put Jesus on the cross.

But the gospel turn is this:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).

He bore the penalty so that we might go free. Grace is real, but so is God’s holiness. That means forgiveness isn’t a license to live however we want. True grace transforms us.

4. We Get Renewed Praise

The chapter closes not with another battle, but with worship. Israel built an altar and read God’s Word aloud (Joshua 8:30–35). Restoration was complete when praise was renewed.

There is no worship like the worship of a forgiven soul.

“When grace sinks in, praise rises up.”

Psalm 32 says:

“The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” (vv. 10–11).

If you’ve experienced God’s forgiveness, then you know: the songs hit different. The fellowship feels sweeter. The mercies feel newer every morning.

The God of Another Chance

Joshua 8 shows us that failure doesn’t have to be the last word. Sin brings defeat and trouble, but God brings restoration and worship.

Maybe you need another chance today. Maybe you’ve wandered far, or maybe you’ve never trusted Jesus at all. The good news is that His heart is open. He has already taken the shame and penalty for your sin at the cross.

So here’s the question:

What needs to change in your life today because of this truth?

Will you keep trying to fix yourself, or will you receive the help, the gifts, the warnings, and the grace that lead to renewed praise?

The God of another chance is still giving chances today.

Don’t stay in the valley of trouble. Step into the joy of another chance.

Helpful Resources on Joshua:

Dale Ralph Davis: No falling Words