Joshua 7

Sin Makes A Difference!

Text: Joshua 7

Introduction

Illustration: The pufferfish looks about as threatening as a pet goldfish but it carries deadly toxins that can kill a person after just a few bites of puffer sashimi. Every year several people in Japan die from eating this unique fish delicacy and many others get sick. The danger is so great that Japanese chefs must receive years of training to learn the intricate skills of removing the lethal toxin before they can be certified to serve puffer. Flirting with sin is not only foolish, it can be fatal. Source: USA Today, December 26, 2013

Joshua 6:27 “27 So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.”

What we see out of Joshua is replicating what was done prior to march over Jericho (that makes sense, right?).

There is a distinction between preparing to take Jericho and preparing to take Ai. Chapter 5 verse 13 tells us that Joshua possibly took some private time near the city of Jericho to get some clarity on how to take the city. It was then the captan of the Lord’s army appeared and gave him the instructions he needed. In chapter 7, we learn that there was no buffer time between the reconnaissance report and the military strike of Ai.

While sin was the ultimate mistake that led to a fatal ending to many Israelites, the trust placed in the “overconfidence” of the spies prevented a must needs check in with God on the proper plan forward and a thorough survey of the camp and the readiness of their men.

Q — Have you ever asked God to make you aware of anything that might cause failure and He not answer that prayer?

1) Sin Denies Victory (v1-9)

A. Sin rises through disobedience

a) God gave clear instructions

Ref: Joshua 6:17–19 “17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”

b) Human nature opposes God’s instructions

Most of the time, when commands are given by God, our lower nature goes to work battling against those very commands.

The Bible is full of these moments (Can you name some?)

This is one of the most important realities a Christian must never downplay.

Jeremiah 17:9 “9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Psalm 139:1 “1 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.”

Psalm 139:23 “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts:”

It is important to understand how our vulnerability to temptation increases when success is on the rise.

B. The impact of sin

a) Many men died

Isn’t that the very nature of sin? Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

b) The entire Israel army “melted in fear.”

Joshua 2:11 “11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”

The smallest of battles are beyond our victory apart from the Lord.

The smallest of temptations are too powerful for us apart from the Lord.

How quickly everyone realized that the victory over Jericho did not guarantee a victory over Ai.

The only victory to have is the kind God gives you!

The promise of a victory tomorrow does not rest upon the victory you had yesterday.

c) Joshua began to doubt following God this far (v6-9)

There are two parts to Joshua’s mourning:

First — He entertains the thought they should have settled like some of the other tribes did on the other side of the Jordan river.

Second — He had a genuine concern for God’s name to be established well in the land.

You and I should always reflect on the fact that our conduct either represents God well or not.

d) God threatened to withdraw Himself from them

e) Achan and his family were destroyed

2) Sin Must Be Uncovered (v6-16)

A. Joshua turned to God in humble sorrow needing answers

a) The journey to victory began here

Joshua is giving himself vent to his feeling as he talked with God.

You and I should never be stoic or pretend that a particular defeat is not there.

It has been said, “The reason we Christians are in trouble so much is that this is the only time God hears from us.”

b) Joshua was not satisfied with any life loss

36 men don’t sound to bad when 2,964 men made it back.

Joshua was going to wrestle this thing out with God until he understood why they experienced defeat.

Many times when there is a defeat in someone’s life or family, people quickly want to point fingers instead considering your own part in the failure.

c) God allowed Joshua to express how he was truly feeling.

How many of you think God desires for us to be honest?

God is gracious to allow you to open your heart up to Him and express your deepest concerns.

B. God answered Joshua’s prayers and gave a plan back to victory. (v10-13)

a) Achan’s sin turned into Israel’s sin

God informs Joshua that a sin conducted in “private” is what has led to a public defeat.

Joshua was to line up the people, tribe by tribe, family by family, household by household, man by man for examination.

APP — Achan gives you a picture on that dark spot in us that if allowed to grow, could choke the strength and energy out of a individual, marriage, family, church, and even a nation.

FACT — Your sin cannot be isolated from me and my sin cannot be isolated from you!

God was dealing with them as a unit.

3) Sin’s Path Into Your Life (v16-21)

A. “When I saw”

There is a difference in “seeing” something and focusing on it.

B. “I coveted”

Isn’t it just silly some of things we might find ourselves coveting?

Often times it isn’t something we need or could find any good use for.

Doesn’t James tell us that “every good and perfect gift come from above?”

Deuteronomy 7:25 “25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.”

Luke 12:15 “15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

The grass will always look greener when you’re never looking at your own!

Coveting will destroy the joy that’s in you.

Philippians 4:11 “11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

4) Sin Must Be Removed (v22-26)

A. God never hides the reality of His judgement toward sin

a) He already warned them that anyone who steals from God and takes what they shouldn’t would be accursed.

b) We are told that sin always pays terribly.

B. Was God unjust to put to death Achan’s whole family?

Perhaps none of them were so innocent?

I think it is fair to suggest that Achan’s had accomplices to the crime.

Also, “children” is not always referring to a 7 year old.

Deuteronomy 24:16 “16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”

You must keep in mind the grand overall story that Israel was chosen for — Take the land a be a people the Messiah would come through.

Conclusion

Illustration: Edwin Cooper was famous across America, yet almost no one knew his real name. Coming from a family of circus clowns, Cooper began performing before audiences when he was just nine years old. After a stint with the Barnum and Bailey Circus, he became a fixture on television in the 1950s as Bozo the Clown. In addition to entertaining both young and old, Cooper had a message for his “buddies and partners” every week: get checked for cancer. Yet Cooper was so busy working that he neglected to follow his own advice. By the time his cancer was discovered, it was too late for it to be treated. Edwin Cooper died at just forty-one years of age from a disease he had warned many others to watch out for.

Sin is far more deadly than the most aggressive and fast growing cancer. Sin kills and destroys everything it touches. From the Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden until now, sin takes no prisoners. This is the purpose behind everything Satan does. Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). Because of his evil nature and his hatred of everything good, the devil brings destruction to everything within his reach.

When we regard sin as God does, we find nothing amusing or humorous about it. We will not make it the subject of the jokes we tell or those we hear. We will not allow ourselves to be tempted to get a little closer to the line to see if we are still safe. God hates sin with a holy and righteous fury, and so should we. When we find ourselves amused by sin, it is time for us to focus on the cross. Seeing the price paid for our sin reminds us that it is no laughing matter. Source: Reading Eagle, July 5, 1961