Matthew Henry Commentary Joshua 8:1-2

"And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land; And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: set thee an ambush for the city behind it." — Joshua 8:1-2 (ASV)

When we have faithfully put away sin—that accursed thing which separates us from God—then, and not until then, may we expect to hear from God for our comfort; indeed, God's directing us how to continue in our Christian work and warfare is good evidence of His being reconciled to us.

God encouraged Joshua to proceed. At Ai, the spoil was not to be destroyed as it was at Jericho; therefore, there was no danger of the people committing such a trespass. Achan, who seized forbidden spoil, lost that, and his life, and all; but the rest of the people, who kept themselves from the accursed thing, were quickly rewarded for their obedience.

The way to have the comfort of what God allows us is to keep from what He forbids us. No one will lose by self-denial.