Covenant Renewed

Reading: (Joshua 8)

Prayer: (Psalm 32)

Sermon

Last time, when we were in Joshua 7 we read of a tragic circumstance which followed on the heals of Israel’s victory at Jericho. As the narrative unfolded, we saw Joshua send out spies similar to what he did at Jericho then launch an attack against the city of Ai. Israel is defeated and, while the reader knows the answer, the author is painting a picture of why Joshua and Israel do not know. The author highlights the absence of God in this narrative and shows that Joshua failed to call upon the Lord for guidance in the attack. Once Israel suffers defeat, Joshua goes to the Lord, maintaining a right focus on the glory of the Lord but placing blame in the wrong covenant party. In response to Joshua’s sorrow the Lord makes Joshua aware that ISRAEL has sinned and that is why they were defeated, not God’s inability or unwillingness to uphold his end of the covenant. After this revelation, God gave Joshua specific instructions on how he is to find the guilty party, ensuring that the process is a clear reminder of his connection to all the Israelites. Joshua followed the Lord’s command and found the guilty man Achan. Following his confession, Achan and any who would have been complicit in his sin were executed to cleanse the people and prepare them to take Ai. This week we will see the completion of that narrative arc in our passage. In Joshua 8 we see essentially the same cast of characters, minus Achan but this time the script is flipped. In the last attack on Ai Israel did not have the Lord’s favor but now, after cleansing the people of their sin, God returns his favor to his people. He gives Joshua instruction on how to attack Ai and Joshua promptly obeys, leading Israel in the destruction of the city of Ai. Once Israel wipes out all the people of Ai, God allows them to plunder the riches of the city, putting Achan’s rebellious theft in a new light. At the close of the passage we see Israel carrying out a covenant renewal ceremony, reminding themselves of the blessings and curses promised in Deuteronomy as well as Israel’s responsibility to uphold the covenant in every aspect. Because this covenant renewal causes a break in the conquest it also serves to remind Israel that the most important thing for them to do is worship the Lord in all they do and HE will fight their battles.

Israel received victory under God’s plan

Where Israel overconfidently attacked Ai the first time with minimal men, this time God prescribes an ambush attack which is carried out with ten times the men at the previous attack

Emphasizing again the main theme of the book: God is Faithful

God’s faithfulness was memorialized by the destruction of Ai

This “pile of rubble” and the one in the previous chapter are a memorial of what happens in the face of disobedience and covenant unfaithfulness

The Hebrew word translated “pile of rubble” here in my bible is found a total of 23 times in the OT and in every case it signals complete destruction. The first time it is used is in Gen. 31:46 which describes the destruction of the relationship between Laban and Jacob. It is used several times throughout the prophets to describe God’s judgement on Jerusalem, Samaria, and Babylon. In the book of Joshua it is only used twice, once here describing Ai and once in the previous chapter describing the death of Achan. In both cases, these piles of rubble serve to remind the Israelites of the danger of living in rebellion to God’s covenant. These two piles of rubble also stand in contrast to the memorial of obedience and covenant faithfulness in Josh. 4. That memorial was to show God’s faithfulness through his miraculous provision, these memorials show God’s faithfulness to uphold the covenant even when Israel will not.

The king of Ai was hung on a tree to display that he and his people were under a curse for their rebellion against God (Deut. 21:22-23)

Israel was rewarded for their patience

At Jericho they were forbidden from taking anything for themselves, at the battle of Ai they were permitted to plunder the goods

Achan’s impatience cost him his and his family’s life

Israel rededicated themselves to the covenant

Joshua read both the blessings and the curses of the covenant

In the destruction of Ai and rededication of the covenant, Israel erected another monument

Monument to the justice of Yahweh

Warning to all future Israelites

This covenant renewal is a picture/shadow of the future redemption in Christ

Israel committed a sin which broke their relationship with God (Achan in Ch. 7)

resulted in defeat at the hands of their enemies

Israel had to repent of that sin

literally put Achan (the sinner and representative of the sin) to death

God prescribed the plan to defeat the enemies of his people

After three days, Israel was able to defeat Ai through God’s plan

Following victory, Israel carried out a covenant renewal ceremony signifying a repaired relationship with Yahweh

Picture of the gospel message

Separated from God by sin

Turning from sin to Christ

Submitting to the only plan which brings salvation

Experiencing a renewed relationship with the savior!

So What?

We must submit to God’s plan

In the first attack Israel displayed their pride/overconfidence in failing to consult God then making their own plan that believed they would have no difficulty in the attack

God’s plan doesn’t align with our plans (Jas. 4:13-15)

it has to be the other way around

God’s plan is always better (Rom. 8:28)

He sees the future and knows exactly what things will bring about the best good for his children

We must wait patiently on the Lord (Ps. 27:13-14)

Achan was impatient in his desire to steal the goods, if he had only waited until Ai he would have been able to take what he wanted and do so openly and free from worry.

God’s fulfillment of his promise is not in our time (2 Pet. 3:9, 15)

All God asks of us is to wait on His time (Ps. 46:10)

Since God doesn’t often speak directly to us, how do we know when to act?

Read Scripture (Deut. 8:3; quoted by Christ in Matt. 4:4)

Pray (1 Thess. 5:17)

Seek the advice of Christian friends and mentors (Prov. 15:22)

Remind ourselves often of our covenant relationship with God

For our own good

Preach the gospel to ourselves daily

We must be ready to defend our faith (1 Pet. 3:15-16)

We must seek to renew our minds (Rom. 12:2)

For the good of others

Preach the gospel to the world

We must be ready to share the gospel (Eph. 6:15)

Our lives must reflect Christ (2 Cor. 2:15)

Invitation

If anyone here has not experienced the freedom that comes with knowing our risen savior, I urge you to accept this invitation today! Christ calls all who would hear and obey to join him in eternal joy. He simply asks that we acknowledge and repent of our sins, believe that He died for our sins and confess him as Lord, continue living your life in obedience to his call! Additionally, if there is anyone here who is not a member of this church and you feel the Lord calling you to membership here I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about membership.

Any questions or need of prayer, I will be up here ready to pray with you this morning. Or, if you aren’t comfortable coming up this morning, you can stop by my office or call/text me and I would be happy to sit down with you.

Benediction

Prayer

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.