Joshua: Results of Teeny Little Sins

• Review

• What 2 rituals do the Israelites observe before attacking Jericho?

• Joshua gets to meet the military commander of heaven. Who do you think this was?

• Joshua and the people follow the heavenly military commander’s instructions to the letter.
• They do not plan a normal siege, build a ramp, or attack head-long.
• They march silently around the walls of Jericho for 6 days in full military garb.

• On the 7th day, they march 7 times and then what do they do?

• Jericho has fallen because of .

2Victorious to Vanquished

• Obedience to God’s plan was what won the day at Jericho. The simple instructions:
  • around the city until it fell on the 7th day.
  • Spare and her house.
  • Save the (gold, silver, iron, bronze) as first fruits of the spoil for an offering to the Lord. Everything goes to the Lord’s treasury.
  • everything else.

  • God’s fame was spread throughout the land. How did this occur? (Joshua 6:26-27)

  • God’s fame was spread because of the of His people.
  • The city fell.
• Rahab was spared. Joshua 6:22-23

  • The ‘devoted’ things were taken to the treasury of the Lord’s House. (Joshua 6:24) What was this?

• Jericho was burned to the ground. Joshua 6:26
  • Joshua’s fame spread because he followed God’s commands to the letter.
  • When Israel got to the next city, Ai, they suffered a devastating defeat.
• This is a much than Jericho. Joshua 7:2-5
  • This is the only record we have of loss of life on the side of Israel in battle in taking the Land.
  • Israel suffered a defeat at Ai because there was unaddressed sin in the camp.
  • Achan took some of the gold and silver from Jericho and went against Joshua’s explicit instructions to leave these as ‘devoted’ things.
• God’s anger was NOT only against Achan, but against . Joshua 7:1
• Joshua is perplexed and distraught. Joshua 7:6-9

  • Can you imagine being this man who had such overwhelming faith in God coming face to face with this kind of defeat?

• Joshua’s concern was directed primarily in two ways:
  • If they suffered such a defeat from a weaker city, other clans will smell blood and attack in force.
  • If they were going to begin suffering defeat, what would this mean for the of God!?

3The Teeny Sins…

• Achan was a soldier in God’s army under one of the greatest leaders, Joshua.
• He knew the commands and understood what he must do as a soldier.
• He followed through on many of the instructions…he just dropped the ball on 3 things..well, 1 thing really… Joshua 7:20-21
  • He saw a beautiful from Babylonia.
  • He saw 200 shekels ( pounds) of silver.
  • He saw a wedge of gold weighing 50 shekels ( pounds).

  • Achan knew that he did something that was wrong. How do we know this?

  • God responded quite harshly to this little, teeny indiscretion. (Joshua 7:10-12, 15)
• The process of routing out the guilty begins. Joshua 7:13-19
  • Achan knows what is to come if he confesses. He and his house will be killed!
• Achan’s sin begins simply:
  • Achan was not with God’s revealed will.
  • Achan was dissatisfied with what he had – he needed more. (like…a Babylonian robe!) NOTE: Babylon material was regarded as extraordinary and elaborate – this would have been an amazing robe that would have just burned up!

  • How do you think Achan justified this thinking?

  • Achan’s dissatisfaction with God’s provisions for him birthed a sinful, covetous heart.
    • NOTE: Where do you think Achan would have been able to use these items he stole? Everyone would know where they came from!

  • The irony: What was Achan about to receive from God?

  • Did he know that he was going to be taken care of by God?

  • Why do you think it was so easy for him to overlook this imminent blessing to take matters into his own hand?

  • “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
  • (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV)
  • Achan did not recognize the of God.

  • Who conquered Jericho?

  • To the conqueror goes the spoils.
  • Not even Joshua, the great military commander, took credit for this one!
  • God made it clear that Achan stole from God!
  • These were not just “things lying around.”
• They were devoted things put into Achan’s personal possessions. Joshua 7:11
  • Coveting serves as the general overview of every sin against God. (The problem of the “2nd Look”)
  • "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
  • (James 1:14-15, NIV)
  • And Sin…When it is Full Grown…Gives Birth to Death.
• Be sure your sins will find you out. Joshua 7:22-23
  • Achan’s sins were made .
• Achan’s suffered for his crimes. Joshua 7:24-26
  • The blessing of God returned when the sin was routed out and dealt with.
  • This had to be hard on the Israelites! (Achan had friends he fought with. His family had friends they loved.)
  • But when sin is uncovered, God takes a prominent seat and the sin is eradicated.
  • Surely, God does not work this severely in the time of Grace we live in! (Does He?)

  • What about Ananias and Sapphira?

  • The Word of God is preserved so that we CAN use it to rebuke if need be.

4When Confessed Sin Meets the Mercy of God

• The residue of the Valley of Achor (“disaster”)
• Joshua’s response to Achan (sounds like Achor) – “Why have you brought this achor on us? The Lord will bring achor on you today.” Josh.7:25
  • This same judgment is spoken of in the story of Hosea.
  • God would keep Gomer from achieving a satisfied heart.
  • God would keep Israel from finding satisfaction apart from Him.
  • "Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’"
  • (Hosea 2:6-7, NIV)
  • The purpose of judgment is to find through .
  • Restoration is promised once sin is eradicated.
  • Israel had to get rid of the sin in order to see God’s blessings again.
  • But Gomer did not receive death (like Achan). She should have!
  • She promised Hosea in a vow to be faithful.
  • She broke her oath and deserved death.
  • Hosea pictures the mercy of God in reaching out to someone who well-deserved death (like Achan) for her unfaithful disobedience to her promised vow.
  • "“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt."
  • (Hosea 2:14-15, NIV)
  • In the Valley of Achor, there is a door of .
  • brings hope.
  • Confessed sin is eradicated in the death of Jesus Christ.
  • Jesus paid the price that sin demanded – even the final price of death.
  • Believers live under grace – God ‘imputes’ Jesus’ righteousness to confessed sin.
    • NOTE: Not every sin will be forgiven – only confessed sin will be forgiven.
    • NOTE: God STILL does NOT overlook sin. It cost Him dearly to nullify its power and bring sinners to righteousness through Christ.
  • "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ."
  • (Romans 5:17, NIV)