False starts

Bolt

The stadium in Daegu was filled with spectator’s expectant to see the fastest man in athletics perform his usual speed feet in the 100m World Championships. The year was 2011 and all seemed normal Bolt was his usual relaxed self before the race, preening when his name was announced. Bolt had looked in brilliant form in the heats and semi-final, feeling all the hard work he had done on his start had finally paid off. But the Jamaican star got it all wrong in spectacular fashion, springing from his blocks before the gun and pulling his running vest off in frustration, instantly realising he would be disqualified. In the days, months and even years that followed the fairness of the ‘False Start’ rule that Bolt disqualified has been called into question. The fact that athlete Yohan Blake's leg had visibly twitched in the instant before Bolt pushed off from the blocks has been blamed by some (but not Bolt) for the incident. Claiming that that Bolt was only responding to Blake's twitch. Whatever the cause athletes and spectator pretty much agree that Athletics one-false-start disqualification rule is simple the cruellest rule in the sport.

As we left 2020 and entered 2021 there was much hope that the New Year would be the start of a ‘more normal’ life. Even before Big Ben’s chimes had faded a ‘false start’ was declared on that, with the country going back into National Lockdown. The hopes of normality, of family gatherings, of economic recovery were put on hold.

In proverbs 13:12 the Bible says, ‘Hope delayed makes the heart sick,’ How true this verse seems as we made the decision to restart the village Covid-19 support service. How sick our hearts felt as we lost people we love to the virus. The start of 2021 was not the start that we desired; ‘false starts’ are the cruellest in life. Proverbs goes on though, the full verse reads ‘Hope delayed makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life’

The bible, especially the old testament is full of false starts

You will remember the Israelites walked around int he desert for 40 odd years before entering the promised land, as false starts go, the day they left Egypt was a pretty spectacular one.

The false start I want to look at though. Takes place after the Israelites have entered Canaan (the promised land) under the leadership Joshua Son of Nun.

You will know of one of Joshua’s exploits involved a certain city called Jericho.

Joshua 6:1–5 CSB

1 Now Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites—no one leaving or entering. 2 The Lord said to Joshua, “Look, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its best soldiers over to you. 3 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the ram’s horns. 5 When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the troops give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the troops will advance, each man straight ahead.”

And you will know from the story that Joshua Did.

And the walls fell

And the city was defeated.

This doesn’t sound much like a False start, it sounds like a pretty good start to Joshua’s leadership if you ask me. But it wasn’t the end of the story.

Joshua and his people were to travel east to the city of Ai.

The city of Ai only contained a few people. Joshua’s advisers recommended that a few thousand Israelite soldiers would be more than enough to concur Ai.

Joshua 7:3-5 tells us this:

Joshua 7:3–5 CSB

3 After returning to Joshua they reported to him, “Don’t send all the people, but send about two thousand or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, don’t wear out all our people there.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. 5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them and chased them from outside the city gate to the quarries, striking them down on the descent. As a result, the people lost heart.

This was the false start

Joshua’s success at Jericho, much like Bolts many 100m victories did not guarantee him success.

While Bolt’s false start may have been to do with another person twitching, Joshua’s false start was definitely down to some one else.

But to understand who, what and why we need to go back to Jericho

Having marched around Jericho for six days, Joshua 6:15-19

Joshua 6:15–19 CSB

15 Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times. 16 After the seventh time, the priests blew the ram’s horns, and Joshua said to the troops, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city. 17 But the city and everything in it are set apart to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will live, because she hid the messengers we sent. 18 But keep yourselves from the things set apart, or you will be set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and make trouble for it. 19 For all the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, are dedicated to the Lord and must go into the Lord’s treasury.”

The opening verse of chapter 7 makes it pretty clear that something had gone wrong. (only read to destruction)

Joshua 7:1 CSB

1 The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and the Lord’s anger burned against the Israelites.

And we need to understand Joshua’s response to the false start.

When disqualified Bolt was clearly upset, disappointed and that showed in his demeanour but he took some time to reflect on the situation, he didn’t immediately blame those around him. He didn’t immediately start to complain about how the decision or life in general was unfair.

Joshua did the same he took some time to reflect and took the situation to God.

Joshua 7:6–9 CSB

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads. 7 “Oh, Lord God,” Joshua said, “why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites for our destruction? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan! 8 What can I say, Lord, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies? 9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will you do about your great name?”

Joshua starts with the pity party, but his reflection moves to a concern for God’s name.

God responds

Joshua 7:10–12 CSB

10 The Lord then said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen facedown? 11 Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings. 12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you what is set apart.

God is really clear that the false start we not in this case, down to circumstance, bad planning or following poor advice [though it could be]. The false start was because God was no longer supporting the exploits of Joshua. God had removed his blessing because of the sin within the people or specifically of one man.

The remainder of the chapter details how each tribe was called forward until one was selected by God, then each clan from that was brought forward until selected, and then each family was brought forward from that clan, until one man was singled out.

Joshua 7:19–23 CSB

19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and make a confession to him. I urge you, tell me what you have done. Don’t hide anything from me.” 20 Achan replied to Joshua, “It is true. I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I did: 21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Babylon, five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing a pound and a quarter, I coveted them and took them. You can see for yourself. They are concealed in the ground inside my tent, with the silver under the cloak.” 22 So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there was the cloak, concealed in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out in the Lord’s presence.

The remainder of the chapter tells us how the silver and other treasures were destroyed and how Achan and his family met a sticky end.

To cut a long story short when the issues that were buried under the tent were exposed and dealt with God was with Joshua and the Israelites. Chapter 8 in my bible is title Ai destroyed , which sort of gives the rest of the story away.

Chapter 8 starts with God proclaiming “

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves.”

Somewhere in the middle all of that happens Ai is destroyed and the chapter ends with Joshua building an alter of uncut stones, renewing the covenant with God and reminding the people of God’s laws and his promises.

Picking yourself up.

Following his false start in the 100m Bolt confirmed that he will run in the 200m saying. "I have to move on now as there is no point dwelling in the past. I have a few days to refocus and get ready for the 200m. After this I have the 4x100m… “

False starts are cruel, what allows us to pick our self up and run again is the hope, the desire to continue; focusing on what can be rather than what has been. The centre of what can be is God’s promise. God’s promises are a miracle with a timer attached.

What kept Joshua focused was the promise that he had within God.

We have all probably had false starts in our lives in our walks with God, it is those promises that allow us to pick our selves up and move on.

To Turn false starts Into Victories We Need To Remember That God Never Forsakes His Children No Matter How They Fail Him

Joshua 8:1a Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged…” After we have had a false start, wither though circumstance or through sin - the the enemy loves to whisper in our ear, “You messed up big time and God can never use you again.” It is at just such a moment in Joshua’s life, following the humiliating defeat, God specifically reminded Joshua of his promise. I am sure that morale in the camp was at an all time low, and Joshua was never more insecure of himself as a leader. It is reassuring to understand that God does not permanently withdraw His blessings when we fail Him.

You may be in that same position where you feel that you have let yourself down or God down and you can never recover or move on. God says Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.

Dusting yourself down

Once we have picked ourself up we need to dust ourselves down and that image of shaking off the the dirt is a good one.

I want to give you three key principles to dusting yourself down so that you can avoid false start and as Paul puts it in his letter to Timothy to focus on the prize and run the race.

What is under your tent?

To Turn false starts in Victories we need to know what is under our tent

Go check what is buried under your tent.

If there are things that you are holding onto that you need to get rid off - do that.

Treasures that distract you from keeping in good step with God.

People - toxic relationships. - Achan sin affected other. - you can be affected by those around you

unmis placed beliefs, talisman, charms - these do not honour God and are an outward sign of unbelief.

The man who’s some was gripped by a demon that would throw the boy in the fire. The man said to Jesus “if you can do anything have compassion on the boy”

Mark 9:23–24 CSB

23 Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

Don’t keep repeating

To Turn False starts Into Victories We Need To Learn to Not Repeat the Same Mistakes

Joshua 8:1b “Take the whole army with you, …” God’s word to Joshua was to use all of the fighting men of Israel, in other words this time take the whole army. Even though the primary cause of defeat at Ai was Achan’s sin, a contributing factor was underestimating the enemy, pride, and presuming upon the power of the Lord.

How often do we get in trouble because we make the same mistake twice? To get on track we need to be willing to listen to God and obey fully.

You have to get back in the blocks.

To Turn False starts Into Victories We May Have To Go Back To The Place Of An Earlier Defeat

I f Bolt had not gone back to the stadium, back to the track, back to the starting blocks he would not have had future success in the 200 and 4x100m, in fact he would possibly have not been the iconic multiple champion he was.

Joshua 8:1c-2 “go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”  Joshua is told to again go up and attack Ai. He is to return to the place of defeat and now because they were in a right position with the Lord, God promises to turn the place of defeat into a place of victory.

It is all about where we stand in relationship with God

To Turn false starts Into Victories We Need To Remember The Source Of Blessings

One thing that Israel had come to understand is that they must have God’s power even for taking the smaller city of Ai. With the power of God even Jericho could be taken and without his power even the seemly insignificant Ai could not be taken. How utterly dependent God’s people are on God’s power for any success!

Not only would there be victory in the place of defeat, but here would be additional reward. Unlike at Jericho, the Lord gave the Israelites permission to take the spoils of Ai for themselves. How ironic to realise that had Achan waited and not allowed himself to be guided by greed and selfishness, he would have been able to take all he wanted and needed when they captured Ai.

As we see victories in our lives we need to

When Ai was defeated. Joshua did not celebrate with a victory march or a dazzling banquet. Instead he did a most unusual thing. In obedience to the command of Moses in Deuteronomy 27, Joshua had the people travel some 30 miles to the valley between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim where he built an altar and carried out a renewal service in recognition that their success was entirely dependant on being obedient to God. It must have been an impressive and moving experience. But most of all it was a God honouring event.

Joshua 8:30-35

Joshua 8:30–35 CSB

30 At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the Lord, the God of Israel, 31 just as Moses the Lord’s servant had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the book of the law of Moses: an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used. Then they offered burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings on it. 32 There on the stones, Joshua copied the law of Moses, which he had written in the presence of the Israelites. 33 All Israel—resident alien and citizen alike—with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on either side of the ark of the Lord’s covenant facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the Lord’s servant had commanded earlier concerning blessing the people of Israel. 34 Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings as well as the curses—according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read before the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, the dependents, and the resident aliens who lived among them.

Notice three things with me.

1.) At the same time that the law was read revealing the sin the altar was constructed as a solution to the problem of those who hear the law but do not keep it. It was God’s solution to the sin problem of the day. Jeesus is the solution to sin once and for all

2.) The altar is not built on Mt.Gerizim where blessings were recited but on Mt. Ebal from which the curses are read. In other words the altar was for sinners, people that got it wrong, those that needed it. Jesus is not for the perfect people. - there are non outside of those made perfect in Jesus.

3.) The altar is built with natural stones without human workmanship. “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool” (v. 31) It is a denial that human being can add anything at all to salvation. Our salvation is all about Jesus, all about Grace it is not about what we do.

Conclusion

If you feel like false starts are the story of your life or you walk with God.

Take a little time to recover then Pick yourself up, God has a wonderful plan in store for you.

Dust yourself down - Get rid of the things that are holding you back, stop repeating the same behaviours and mistakes

Get back in the race. no matter how hard that may feel. rely on the all sufficient provision of God to carry you.

As you start to see victories however small, give honour to God. visit the alter, spend time with Jesus - he is not interested in what mistakes you have made He is interested in you for who you are and who the promises of God can let you be. - Nothing you can do, say or think can add to it or take away from it, Jesus died for you so you can know God. The choice is yours.

Prayer.

sorry times we don’t honour you

Reveal the things that we need to deal with

Strengthen us in our pursuit of you

Thank you for the victories we see.

Thank you for the victory you won

Be with us .

Amen.

Link to prayer tonight.

reminder about Wednesday Group.