Joshua 7:10–14 KJV 1900

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the Lord taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the Lord shall take shall come by households; and the household which the Lord shall take shall come man by man.

Get Rid of the Stuff

God responded, to Joshua’s faith rather than the audacity of his insult. His insult wasn’t worth God’s time and response because it was

Rooted in fear

Learned behavior from Joshua’s past (God is not holding us to our past)

So he tells Joshua to get up and stop groveling because at this point Joshua was making a fool of himself. How though? Is this not what Joshua is supposed to do in the face of his trouble? Does God not want us to come to him for help when we are in need of it? Yes he does! He is also a God of accountability, especially because he is a God of covenant. In a covenant both parties must do their part!

God tells Joshua that the COI could not stand before their enemies because they had done what God commanded them not to do. (None of God’s instructions are negotiable).

He didn’t negotiate

In the Garden with Adam

In the wilderness with Moses

In Havilah with Saul

With Jonah concerning Ninevah

NEVER with an enemy of kingdom

With us today

Joshua 6:18–19 NASB 2020

But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things designated for destruction, so that you do not covet them and take some of the designated things, and turn the camp of Israel into something designated for destruction and bring disaster on it. But all the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.”

He says the COI have taken of what he’d instructed them not to take, not only did they take it, they stole it and dissembled it and have put it in the midst of their own stuff! So to realign with his will and his covering over them they must get rid of what was stolen.

Joshua 7:1 NASB 2020

But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully regarding the things designated for destruction, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the designated things; therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.

How often are we dealing with issues that stem from us having stuff that doesn’t belong to us. We are walking around fighting and losing because there is stuff in the camp that is not designated for us.

Fighting other peoples problems

being angry on someone else’s behalf

Working other’s peoples jobs

fulfilling assignments for others

Raising other people’s children

Attempting to rear and establish someone else’s legacy

Warring with other peoples demons

Intercede don’t interfere

The other side to that is how many of us are holding on to stuff that God has ordained or destined us to be separated from.

Sins and Flesh led Desires

1 Peter 1:15–16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Galatians 5:17–19 “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,”

Distracting Relationships

Matthew 19:27–30 “Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”

Luke 9:59–62 “And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Insecurities

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.”

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

Maximize Your Effort

In Spiritual Preparation

Praying before we engage (Invite God in) Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

Gaining Godly knowledge/understanding of what we are engaging in (Gain his words about your situation) Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

In Mental Preparation

Processing our emotional state (How do you feel about it?)

Gaining all possible knowledge of the situation and knowing our history in similar instances (Have you been here before? Can you do it differently this time)

In Practical Application

Intertwining the spiritual preparation with our mental preparation and responding accordingly (Surrendering God’s will to your own and doing it his way) Philippians 4:6–9 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”