Wining Big; Losing Small

A Tale of Two Cities

Jericho: a double walled fortress (front wall 40 feet; back wall 100 feet) The Battle They Could Not Win

Ai: a small city of 12,000 total inhabitants (Cleveland, MS 12,334; Grenada 13,092 2010 census) The Battle They Could Not Lose

The Theological Pattern

The People Obeyed God and Won the Battle of Jericho

Achan Disobeyed God in the Aftermath of Victory and Brought Sin in the Camp

Due to Sin in the Camp, God’s people were brought under the ban, accursed, cherem, therefore lost

Joshua had to halt the entire conquest enterprise in order to deal with one man’s sin which hobbled the entire group

Achan brought severe judgment on himself and his family. Everything pertaining to Achan was destroyed.

Israel won the 2nd Battle of Ai.

This Historical Episode Provides Us Several Spiritual Lessons

Obedience to God is expected even when His Instructions Might not Make Sense

Obedience brings Victory when No Victory Seemed Possible

An Individual’s Righteousness is Never and Individual Matter (Rahab; , )

An Individual’s Sin is Never an Individual Matter (Achan; )

The Wages of Sin is Death

The Removal of Sin Opens the Path of Victory

The Valley of Trouble (‘emeq ‘akor Achor) ,

The Door of Hope (Pethach Teqvah)

7. God’s People Triumph over His Foes after They have removed Sin from Their Own Camp