"And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it." Joshua 8:2

The previous city Israel conquered was Jericho, it was also the first city, as they came into the Land God had promised them. It was customary to plunder a city once it was defeated; that meant all the precious metals and stones, the livestock, and everything within the city would be taken by the conquerors for themselves. But when taking Jericho God commanded Israel to take nothing for themselves. The Gold, silver, bronze, and iron were to be brought into the treasury of God, everything else was to be burned. But now as they get ready to overtake the city of Ai, God tells them they may take the plunder for themselves.

The Bible teaches us that the first of all we earn or receive belongs to God. And so it was, as Israel came into the Land of Promise the first city with all its treasure was to be given to God, they were to take none of it for themselves. We are to honor the Lord with the first of all we have: our finances, our time, our energy. The first of everything is Gods! And when we give the first of everything to God we can be sure that God will continue to bless us. Put God first in your life and let it be evident as you give the first of all you have to Him!

"Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine."  

Proverbs 3:9-10