Joshua Chapter7 :1-26
Survey
Moses described the Promised
Land as “a land of hills and valleys”
(Deut. 11:11). That statement, I believe, is much more than a description of
the contrast between the hilly landscape of Canaan and the flat topography of
Egypt. It’s also a description of the geography of the life of faith that is pictured by
Israel’s experiences in Canaan. HILLS & VALLEYS
So too in the Christian walk: we by faith claim our inheritance in Christ, we experience peaks of victory and valleys of discouragement. Discouragement isn’t inevitable in the Christian life, but we must remember that we can’t have mountains without valleys.
A)But the worst times is
when the Valley Experience is the result of our Sin { That
is the Case here in Joshua Ch.7 {
B) The Conquest has Begun –
Started w/ Jericho - We noted how the
Lord gave them that Victory - …….. Walls fell –
C) Now a Question that is often asked: Why did they have to Destroy
everyone in the Land of Cannan – doesn’t seem right!!!
First understand
– that all of these people could trace their Lineage back to Noah – Adam –
Godly Background –
A)2nd The
People of Israel spent 400 yrs in Egypt – Time
for the nation to Grow – Jacob’s Family becomes 3 Million people
B) All during that time God was giving the People in the
land of Canaan time to Repent – turn back to him /
instead further away
1) Their Sin & Idolatry were becoming rampant – The
People in the land of Canaan were infected w/ Cancer –
needed to be Removed
C) So the Lord gave them Victory over their First Enemy –
the City of Jericho – Ch 6 ends on a high note 27 So the LORD was
with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.
A)However The 7th
chapter of the book of Joshua opens w/ an Ominous BUT
B) Up to this point it has
been a story of success but Ch. 7 reveals a horrible defeat !{ A DEFEAT THAT DIDN’T NEED TO HAPPEN
1) As we look at this Chapter tonight we want to examine
the causes of spiritual defeat / but also the cure ( Read V.1-5 )
Now before we focus on the sin of Achan lets look at some of
the other reasons for this failure at Ai.
A)1st V.3
Self Confidence among the men of Israel !
B) Joshua once again send
out spies – following a pattern that He set up in Ch.2
1) Now Ai= small heap /hill top city
1700 ft above sea level/ It was a small & insignificant city
especially in comparison to Jericho !
C) Because of the
smallness of the city the spies come back v.3 they tell Joshua the city is
small – we don’t need everyone –
1) It was logical & Rational thinking – But it was
all wrong
D) In a Subtle way it assumed that they had something to do
w/ the battle at Jericho –
1)I think it is very possible
an attitude had developed of we just wiped out the mighty city of Jericho why
waste the whole armies time on this little city
E)But we need to note
this because there is a tendency in our lives to get over confident after a
great spiritual victory !
Redpath Mark this lesson well in your
Christian life: there is no experience in Christian living so full of Danger as
the Flush of Victory. There is no moment so perilous as when for the first time
a man has experienced deliverance from sin. At such times there is the tendency
to be filled w/ pride & boast in our ARM that has saved us
A)This is one of the
Problems w/ the “ Christian self help programs
“ they are prone to self confidence “ Look what I did/ I overcame “
B) But a major point of
Christianity is in realizing that I couldn’t do it but look what God has done
for me/ in me & through me !
1) The greatest lesson that we can learn as a believer
is the lesson that Paul learned – In my flesh dwells no Good thing –
C) Therefore Paul said –Not Confidence in my Flesh – but Confidence in
my God !!!
1) RP called the moment of Victory the Moment for Humiliation – Having the wherewithal to Know the work was done by God !!!
D) So this was the first
problem self confidence !
2nd Problem is the by product of the First – Lack of Prayer
A)When I am self confident
the first thing to go is my prayer life .
B)That can often happen
when we find ourselves in a situation that we perceive to be small / that I
think I can handle or take care of !
1) We have to be so
careful not to speak / launch out /
offer counsel / until we have first prayed & listened
to the Lord !
RP If
you pray in time of Victory you will never have to plead in time of Defeat
C) I suggest to you that if Joshua would have sought the Lord
– the way he did before Jericho – if he went looking for his Commander
1) He would have been told – there is sin the camp –
Don’t proceed until it is dealt w/
B) But Joshua forgot to Pray: Prayer is a mark of our
Dependency
1) Can do more than pray – shouldn’t do anything until
we’ve prayed
C) Leadership here: We talk – We pray together – spend a week praying
individually – What God say to us –
1) God will speak to all of us the same – { Times when
we haven’t been in agreement – didn’t do it
D) What is lost by seeking
the Lord ? What is lost by Prayer
1) Well you might not get the answer you want !!! – But
You will know you are in God’s will
E) You will avoid
situations like this one: Note verse 5 says therefore the hearts of the people melted and
became like water.
We read in Ch. 5 that the hearts of the people in Cannan had
melted because the of the God of Israel ( But now Israel hearts had melted )
A)That is exactly what
happens when we take our eyes off the Lord & put them on ourselves Hearts Strong in Faith melt in defeat!
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes, and
fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and
the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said,
"Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all
-- to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had
been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what shall I
say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? 9 For the Canaanites and all
the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name
from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?"
Now Joshua is Distraught here: He is
confused –Over reacting – Are you trying to Destroy us
Lord - what
Happened ?
A)I like the Lord’s
Response: v.10 So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your
face?
B) Kids – Stop your crying before I give you something
to Cry about –
1) Time to CRY – TIME TO ACT –
C) This was a time to Act –
This was a time to do something – V. 11 –21
Now note here that Achan’s sin was two fold – V.11 Israel
has sinned & they have also transgressed My Covenant – Two Problems
A)Israel has sinned ?–
Now wait a minute Achan sinned / why
did the Lord say that Israel sinned ! Achan
was part of Israel
B)The Lord is teaching an important Principle a
principle that says we are linked to one another
! When one sins it affects us all !
1) Sunday noted This is
what is meant by the phrase in 1 Cor. 5:6 That a little leaven leavens the
whole lump !
C) Sin brings about the loss of God’s power & Presence in our lives it
has a paralyzing & immobilizing affect on us !
1) Israel sinned &
because of their sin they couldn’t stand before their enemies
It was Achan’s sin but it affected the whole Nation – What
was the TWO FOLD ASPECT - V.11 Sinned /
Broke the Covenant
A)His sin was to take
the Babylonian Garment Accursed
thing – Jos6:18
18
And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become
accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a
curse, and trouble it.
B) The Babylonian garment was the Accursed thing – anything
that resembled the World - Sin of Worldliness
1)
See Babylon was
a highly regarded city. In later yrs
it would be THE CITY – overwhelmingly Powerful –
C) Achan saw the cloak –
He knew it was Babylonian – He took it –
Sin of Disobedience &
Worldliness – How much like the world can we be
1) Staff guys a few yrs ago Bachelor parties –Pranks -
D) Come out from among
them & be ye Separate – Who are we trying to be
like - Brittney: Bare miff – Mariah -
His breaking of the Covenant was taking the Silver & the Gold – This was the sin of Materialism Josh 6:24 But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
A)The Covenant that the
Lord had made w/ His People had to do w/ the Principle of 1st works !
B) Jericho was the 1st city in the land of
Cannan that the children of Israel were to conquer !- In this first city the Lord was instilling this principle that
the first of everything belongs to Him !
C) Here
is the Reality: Everything you have belongs to the Lord –People say I
just don’t Know if I can tithe – give a tenth
1)
The
Wrong way to look at- In Reality – All of it belongs to the Lord it is His – He
has entrusted it to you – He wants you to give him 10%
D) The Question shouldn’t be – Why should I give 10% but why
does the Lord let me – Keep – 90%
1)
But
I earned it –
Who gave you that Job / Who blessed that deal ? Who could take you out of that
Job – tomorrow ?
So Achan Sinned in Taking of
the Accursed thing – Babylonian garment and He Stole by taking of the gold
& Silver – Robbing God
A)What is ironic – is that what laid before him was
the blessing of God in ABUNDANCE
B) A land flowing w/ milk
& Honey – In fact in the very next Battle God would allow them to
take all the spoil they wanted
1)
Achan’s Problem was that He was Short sighted { Focused on the Temporal
C)
THAT CAN BE OUR PROBLEM AS WELL – We are focused on the
Temporal – not the Eternal
1)
God
tells us to invest in His Kingdom – Store up Treasure in Heaven
We wrestle w/ that – What about here Lord
D)
HOW MUCH DO YOU OWN
IN THAT DIRECTION
Notice v.21 Achan in his
confession – Stated – that the Problem was that He Coveted – these things when
he saw them
A)Covetousness is a sin that is born out of a
Dissatisfaction in your present
state { Satan – throne { Eve wanted more
-
B) People see another house – Suddenly don’t like there’s –
Couch – Car
Spouse
/ kids –
1)
Everyone
of us is susceptible to that – Discontentment –
that we feel about life
C)
Want a better this / different that / New Building –
1)
Here is what I am Learning – Shared before - Discontentment is really
for more of the Lord – that is the Key
Gal 4:6 Intimacy / 2 Cor 5 –& Heaven
Listen there will
always be a better – House / Car gets dents /
A)The True Satisfaction that we are longing for – is
found in drawing nearer to the Lord
B) SO Achan’s Dissatisfaction
led to Disobedience – 3rd and most serious Reason for their
Defeat –
C)
Noted on Sunday Achan was Foolish to think his sin wouldn’t be Discovered – SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT
1)
He
was ALSO foolish to think that His Sin wouldn’t hurt anyone else
Noted the Army Suffered
– Also His Family RD v. 22-26
Why was this Punishment rendered upon his Family –
Deut 24:16
16 "Fathers shall not be
put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their
fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.
A) Now there are Still those who read this &
think – that still seems very Harsh –
Why were they Stoned & Burned
B)The answer to that
question lies in the Principle of Precedence
which says:
God
will make a strong statement at ONE point in
time which is to be remembered and applied to ALL points
in time.
C) See because this was a
new Country – a new time in their history- God was making a Strong Statement
about Sin { AGAG -
1) Lesson for All time
- CONSEQUENCES FOR SIN !!!!!
We ended on Sunday – talking about – Valley of Achor – how
it can become a door of Hope Hosea 2:15 -
Cure -
A)Brokenness that leads
to Repentence & Restoration – Jesus became our Achan so that we could be
Rescued – Confession / Repentence
DEAL
W/ THE SIN - Courson: NOT NO – BUT
NEVER