Joshua 7:1-26

The Proper Response to God’s Holy Anger

God had promised Abraham and His covenant people a gift of land, a land they shall possess as long as they remain faithful to the covenant.

Only the faithful covenant people could expect to receive the gift of the land.

However, in this chapter we find that at some point, the people of Israel once again failed to show their faithfulness to God. A TRAGEDY!

The purpose:

This was written to tell us not to take the holiness of God lightly.

This was written to make us reflect of our choices in life.

This was written to stir our hearts away from dishonoring God .

This was written to point us to the one who can cleanse us and save us from the punishment of God’s judgment.

Outline:

I. The Reason for God’s Holy Anger (v1)

- Unfaithfulness of the People

Joshua 7:1 NASB95

But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.

God hates Sin!

Beware of God’s Anger! God’s anger should put fear in our hearts!

Do not take lightly the Holiness of God

II. The Consequences of their Unfaithfulness (vv. 2- 9)

Joshua 7:4 NASB95

So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.

Defeat- v4

Joshua 7:5 NASB95

The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

Death- v5

Joshua 7:6–8 NASB95

Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! “O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies?

Grief - vv. 6-8

Joshua 7:9 NASB95

“For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”

Fear - v9

Because of unfaithfulness, God withdraws His help and it resulted to defeat and death.

Lesson about the Omniscience of God - God knows everything!

Lesson about the effect of Sin - Sin has consequences that will negatively affect the people around you.

III. The Need for Repentance and Cleansing (vv. 10-15)

Joshua 7:10 NASB95

So the Lord said to Joshua, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?

God told Joshua to Rise up! v10

Joshua 7:11 NASB95

“Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things.

God told Joshua of their Sin, the reason of their defeat (v11) The ban was a test of loyalty to God.

Joshua 7:12 NASB95

“Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.

God told them that they cannot win against their enemies unless they remove the things devoted for destruction. (vv12)

Joshua 7:13 NASB95

“Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the Lord, the God of Israel, has said, “There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.”

God told them to consecrate themselves so they can be forgiven (v13)

Consecration - the cleansing someone or something from sin and ritual impurity, and then to dedicating the person or thing for a specific purpose.

God’s requirement for them to remove the anger of God upon them is to consecrate themselves - to clean, purify, to be set-apart for God’s purpose. (v.13)

Repentance is necessary for forgiveness

Cleansing is necessary for renewal

The Gospel Message: Jesus came to consecrate (cleanse, purify) us from our sin and impurity and sanctified us to be God’s people. This is the Good News!

IV. The Finding Out of Sin (vv.16-23)

Joshua 7:19 NASB95

Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I implore you, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.”

Joshua 7:20–21 NASB95

So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.”

Achan’s sin is common to man - lust of the eyes!

The process of SIN: See, Covet/Desire, Took, Conceal (v.21)

Discontent

Lust of the eyes, flesh, pride of life

Taking lightly the command of God

Depravity of the heart of man

Joshua 7:23 NASB95

They took them from inside the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the sons of Israel, and they poured them out before the Lord.

Thinking you can hide your sin from God (private sin) - God knows what you are doing privately!

V. God’s Judgment to the Sinners / Violators (vv. 24-25)

Joshua 7:24 NASB95

Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.

The things they covet were taken from them - they could not enjoy them!

Joshua 7:25 NASB95

Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.

They received the just penalty of death.

Lesson about Sin - Sin against God is punishable by DEATH.

One day - after the physical death, each one will face God in judgment!

You have a very important decision to make today while you are still alive!

Eternal life in heaven or Eternal Agony in hell?

VI. The Reminder Not To Forget the Lesson (v.26)

Joshua 7:26 NASB95

They raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the valley of Achor to this day.

A monument or marker was created to remind the people not to take the command of God lightly - for there are consequences.

Proper Response:

Individual:

Stop thinking that private sins are private!

If you are a believer, sanctify yourself daily! Do not underestimate the effect of sin!

Make Godly choices!

If you are not yet a believer, repent and believe in Jesus Christ. For He alone can cleanse and purify you of your sins! He alone can save you from God’s eternal judgment!

Church:

Take your accountability seriously.

Achan’s sin could have been prevented if his family did not remained silent.

Hebrews 3:12–14 NASB95

Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,