Dave continued our series looking through Joshua, looking at the defeat of the Israelites at Ai following Achan's sin. See Joshua 7.
Recap
The Israelites have left Egypt, spent 40 years in the desert. They cross the Jordon into the promised land and consecrate themselves to the Lord. They then win a remarkable victory at Jericho not by their own military might but by the supernatural power of God in spiritual warfare who is in a covenant relationship with them.
Read the chapter
Following the great victory at Jericho they are soundly defeated.
This to me is due to two issues.
1. Achan s sin and disobedience
2. Joshua’s presumption on God for the victory.
Achan and his sin
Adam and Eve were initially without sin. They sinned and and not repent of their rebellion from God. Therefore they were driven out of the garden (the promised land).
In Egypt the Israelites are delivered from the destruction of the Lord by the atonement covenant of God at the Passover. This is a shadow of the cross at Easter.
Now the Israelites have been promised the new land the land running with milk and honey. The Promised land.
They have consecrated themselves and therefore atoned for their sin so they can be at one with God. Achan however takes the things that God said were to be devoted to Him.
On the first impression this seems perhaps like a pragmatic, sensible thing to do. It wouldn’t hurt anyone. No one would know it was missing and in Achan tent.
Achan’s sin was not just theft. His eyes had seen something and he coveted the garments and the gold. He was no longer worshipping the Lord but was in idolatry breaking the covenant the Lord made with his people.
It is the complete opposite of Rahab. She left her idols, sinful ways and her own people to follow the Lord. Remember the red cord of hope. The Lord took it as faith and credited it as righteousness. She is now part of the family of God.
Achan however turns to idols (the Babylonian garment and gold) and disobeys the Lord. He therefore opens the door for his destruction.
God however is a God of kindness, love and forgiveness.
Achan had the chance to turn from his sin and own up.
This happens several times. Each time he thinks he can get away with it.
Let’s not forget that God wants to save people and not destroy them in his wrath. The story of Jonah and Nineveh. Nineveh was the most horrendously violent nation ever. God still chose to forgive them when they repented.
Achan didn’t repent and his family were complicit in the rebellion against the Lord.
God uses the word it. An object. Not at this point a person. He wants Achan to repent. Achan, like Ananias and Saphira in Acts hardens his heart.
Hebrews says “ Do not harden your hearts as they did in the desert”.
What conclusion do we draw?
Sin is a serious issue. Jesus has atoned for our sin. That is He has brought us back into a right standing with Him. We could not and can not make ourselves righteousness but Jesus can and has made us right with the Father.
Story of a wet sleeping bag, a leaking hot water bottle. What do we do with it? Kick it out. Go to our parents to clean it up.
Let us be aware of the tactics of Satan. It is to destroy from outside and also from within.
The Canaanites are the outside force of Satan and Achan becomes the inside agent of Satan. He therefore had to be destroyed.
Please don’t be afraid of the wrath of judgement on you. If you are born again judgement has already fallen on Jesus at the cross and he has triumphed over sin and death. Let us not however be complacent about the awfulness of sin in our lives. We however can come to the great high priest , Jesus and ask him to help us. We must also repent of our sins and exercise faith that he has forgiven us. We live under grace not the law.
Questions
This is a challenging passage. Discuss how this shows that God has no favourites and wants to see all come to faith.
How does this story show us the cross of Christ? (Do you fully grasp the eno
