Promised Land Living: Failures to Trust: Josh. 7

I. Joshua’s Failure to Trust vs. 1-10

A. Joshua trusted in his own understanding. Nothing sets you up for failure like success and a short memory. Had Joshua remembered who had provided, and given Israel everything, Joshua would have prayed and not attacked in his own strength. Pro. 3:5-7

Proverbs 3:5–7 NASB95

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

B. Both Achan and Joshua forgot Yahweh in their haste. Achan from a greedy heart. Joshua from a self reliant heart.

C. They lost because of Achan and Joshua’s lack of trust.

D. Joshua sounds like the Israelites in the wilderness. He has a pity party, and Yahweh tells him to get up, and get to doing the hard stuff.

II. Achan’s Failure to Trust vs. 11-26

A. Achan could have been one of the same ones who had made a vow in Joshua 1:18

Joshua 1:18 NASB95

“Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”

B. You can’t advance with sin in the camp.

C. Your sin will find you out one way or another.

D. Your sin cost you more than you realize. It cost others as well. “God will bless your church because of you, or in spite of you”- Richard Blackaby.

E. The family was complicit in the sin, hence why they all had to die.

F. Achor means trouble. For the Jews to burn the bodies was a sign of shame.

G. When we trust in treasures here on earth, and not in Jesus we get ourselves in trouble. Don’t be like Achan who “saw the bling and forgot his king”- Max Lucado I Tim. 6:17

1 Timothy 6:17 NASB95

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.