| Joshua: Strength and Courage |
Joshua: Being Clean
Joshua: Strength and Courage for the True Man of God
Joshua 7 – Being Clean
Israel suffers its first defeat in the Promised Land. Why?
Because Achan did not follow the command of God in regards to devoted things. He took some booty for
himself.
For the True Man of God today, this is a lesson of the importance of repentance and “being clean.”
Pastors, for example, have certain criteria to meet.
Doctors also (drug free, etc).
Police (cannot be felons).
Voting Citizen – cannot be a convicted felon.
God is serious about this. How serious? Achan is killed, back then.
Today? Jesus was killed for our sins.
Notes:
Verse 1 – Of special note is that what turns out to be the sin of one man makes the entire nation of Israel guilty.
This hardly seems fair to us today. But if we think about it, it is still true today to a certain extent. People in
other countries don’t like the United States because of one man, the President.
In Israel’s case, God’s anger is kindled against the nation because of one man. The problem? Achan’s sin has
defiled the purity of the nation. Remember, Israel is to be different than every one else. Achan’s sin was what
was typical (and expected) of other nations. God wanted to keep Israel free from that infection (look what
happened to the world at Noah’s time or Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham’s time). But the infection is entered
the body of Israel – and it will be as dangerous and deadly as an infection can be in a human body.
Verse 4 – the recommendation of the spies is to send only 3000 men. From chapter 8 we know that Ai was only
a town of 12,000 which would put the army at about 3000.
The defeat of Ai should be a piece of cake.
This could have been either an act of faith or an indication of misplaced self-confidence.
But since the defeat of Jericho was so unusual and supernatural, I don’t think anyone in Israel could have
thought that they were doing all this on their own. I believe it is an act of faith. It turns out to not matter. In
fact, having only 3000 go to Ai seems to have ensured that only 36 men die in battle (1% casualty rate).
Israel could not be defeated by the inhabitants of Canaan. Israel could only be defeated by themselves. That
is also the way it is with us. Satan and this world cannot defeat us. We can only defeat ourselves.
Verse 5 – 36 dead, relatively speaking, is not a big deal. Even among a fighting force of 3000 – about 1% as
said before. To put this in perspective – 3800 soldiers have died in the four and half years of the Iraq War.
20,000 soldiers died in the Battle of Monte Casino between January and May of 1944. 36 dead is just not a big
deal (unless, of course, you were one of the dead or it was someone you loved). So what was the big deal
here?
Why did the “hearts of the people melt”? Because this was the first defeat they faced. It was a defeat so
unexpected (especially after Jericho). It was also a defeat that was unnecessary.
Verse 6 – This is a sign of mourning. But Joshua isn’t mourning the 36 men who were killed. Rather, he has
realized that Israel has lost the favor of God. Without God’s favor, Joshua understands that they have no hope
of conquering the Promised Land.
Verse 7 – Joshua realizes that defeat means only one thing – that God has withdrawn His favor and protection.
It isn’t because the troops fighting for Ai were so great or mighty or had a secret weapon.
Verse 8 – Joshua also has realized that God doesn’t just withdraw his favor and protection willy-nilly or on a
whim. It was for a reason. Joshua knows that reason – that the people have turned their backs on God. Joshua is
ready to blame the whole nation (himself included) and he’s partially correct. The nation has been infected
with sin. But it was due to one man disobeying the Law of God concerning the devoted things.
Verse 9 – Joshua fails to see the purpose for God withdrawing His favor and protection. Moses asked the same
question nearly forty years previous (Exodus 32 and the Golden Calf incident).
God doesn’t need to be reminded that He has made promises to His people. These questions and imploring of
Joshua and Moses are not for God’s sake but for the people’s sake. They need to be reminded of the promises
of God so has to change their hearts!
This shows us today the importance of confession. We don’t need to tell God what we’ve done wrong. He knows
already. But the importance of confession is for us. It is how God’s Law works on our hearts to prepare them for
the life-changing Gospel.
Verse 10 – God answers Joshua directly. God has not totally withdrawn from him. This is Good News! But it isn’t
all good news.
Verse 11 – God says that Israel sinned. Think about it. The sin of one man (Achan) makes the entire nation
guilty. The reverse will also be true for us, but more on that later.
Verse 12 – The un-confessed and un-repented sin is destroying Israel – literally.
Our sin also separates us from God – apart from whom there is no life! God hates sin. He destroyed sin with the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (which shows us just how serious He is about destroying sin).
Verses 13-15 – Israel is tainted by Achan’s sin, yet God provides a way out. This procedure is so that Israel can
have no doubts as to what the sin is (it’s always nice to know exactly what you’ve done wrong, isn’t it?).
Verses 16-19 – Now everyone knows exactly what happened or who did it.
Verse 20-21 – Achan seems to make public confession of his sin. Note that what he took is not worth all that
much, certainly not worth the lives of 36 men and the tainting of the entire nation.
Verses 22-24 – Achan confesses but still has to bear the consequences of his sin. This isn’t so much a picture
of the lack of mercy on the part of God but rather an illustration of just how seriously God takes sin.
Verse 25 – The “them” is not Achan’s family but the things he had taken.
Israel’s victory here is only possible after death – Achan’s death.
Our victories in this life are also only possible after death – Christ’s death and our dying with Christ and rising
again with Him (Baptism).
Wrap up – the lesson for us today.
The punishment of one man (Christ) was enough to absolve all of humanity.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ destroyed sin. This shows us just how serious God is about the
destruction of sin. He sacrificed His only Son so that we can be forgiven of our sin, so that He could destroy our
sin.
If we do not confess and repent, then we are holding on to our sin – sin that will be destroyed and us with it.
Big Idea: God is so serious about sin He sent Jesus to die to get rid of sin.
Joshua 7 – Being Clean
Israel suffers its first defeat in the Promised Land. Why?
Because Achan did not follow the command of God in regards to devoted things. He took some booty for
himself.
For the True Man of God today, this is a lesson of the importance of repentance and “being clean.”
Pastors, for example, have certain criteria to meet.
Doctors also (drug free, etc).
Police (cannot be felons).
Voting Citizen – cannot be a convicted felon.
God is serious about this. How serious? Achan is killed, back then.
Today? Jesus was killed for our sins.
Notes:
Verse 1 – Of special note is that what turns out to be the sin of one man makes the entire nation of Israel guilty.
This hardly seems fair to us today. But if we think about it, it is still true today to a certain extent. People in
other countries don’t like the United States because of one man, the President.
In Israel’s case, God’s anger is kindled against the nation because of one man. The problem? Achan’s sin has
defiled the purity of the nation. Remember, Israel is to be different than every one else. Achan’s sin was what
was typical (and expected) of other nations. God wanted to keep Israel free from that infection (look what
happened to the world at Noah’s time or Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham’s time). But the infection is entered
the body of Israel – and it will be as dangerous and deadly as an infection can be in a human body.
Verse 4 – the recommendation of the spies is to send only 3000 men. From chapter 8 we know that Ai was only
a town of 12,000 which would put the army at about 3000.
The defeat of Ai should be a piece of cake.
This could have been either an act of faith or an indication of misplaced self-confidence.
But since the defeat of Jericho was so unusual and supernatural, I don’t think anyone in Israel could have
thought that they were doing all this on their own. I believe it is an act of faith. It turns out to not matter. In
fact, having only 3000 go to Ai seems to have ensured that only 36 men die in battle (1% casualty rate).
Israel could not be defeated by the inhabitants of Canaan. Israel could only be defeated by themselves. That
is also the way it is with us. Satan and this world cannot defeat us. We can only defeat ourselves.
Verse 5 – 36 dead, relatively speaking, is not a big deal. Even among a fighting force of 3000 – about 1% as
said before. To put this in perspective – 3800 soldiers have died in the four and half years of the Iraq War.
20,000 soldiers died in the Battle of Monte Casino between January and May of 1944. 36 dead is just not a big
deal (unless, of course, you were one of the dead or it was someone you loved). So what was the big deal
here?
Why did the “hearts of the people melt”? Because this was the first defeat they faced. It was a defeat so
unexpected (especially after Jericho). It was also a defeat that was unnecessary.
Verse 6 – This is a sign of mourning. But Joshua isn’t mourning the 36 men who were killed. Rather, he has
realized that Israel has lost the favor of God. Without God’s favor, Joshua understands that they have no hope
of conquering the Promised Land.
Verse 7 – Joshua realizes that defeat means only one thing – that God has withdrawn His favor and protection.
It isn’t because the troops fighting for Ai were so great or mighty or had a secret weapon.
Verse 8 – Joshua also has realized that God doesn’t just withdraw his favor and protection willy-nilly or on a
whim. It was for a reason. Joshua knows that reason – that the people have turned their backs on God. Joshua is
ready to blame the whole nation (himself included) and he’s partially correct. The nation has been infected
with sin. But it was due to one man disobeying the Law of God concerning the devoted things.
Verse 9 – Joshua fails to see the purpose for God withdrawing His favor and protection. Moses asked the same
question nearly forty years previous (Exodus 32 and the Golden Calf incident).
God doesn’t need to be reminded that He has made promises to His people. These questions and imploring of
Joshua and Moses are not for God’s sake but for the people’s sake. They need to be reminded of the promises
of God so has to change their hearts!
This shows us today the importance of confession. We don’t need to tell God what we’ve done wrong. He knows
already. But the importance of confession is for us. It is how God’s Law works on our hearts to prepare them for
the life-changing Gospel.
Verse 10 – God answers Joshua directly. God has not totally withdrawn from him. This is Good News! But it isn’t
all good news.
Verse 11 – God says that Israel sinned. Think about it. The sin of one man (Achan) makes the entire nation
guilty. The reverse will also be true for us, but more on that later.
Verse 12 – The un-confessed and un-repented sin is destroying Israel – literally.
Our sin also separates us from God – apart from whom there is no life! God hates sin. He destroyed sin with the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (which shows us just how serious He is about destroying sin).
Verses 13-15 – Israel is tainted by Achan’s sin, yet God provides a way out. This procedure is so that Israel can
have no doubts as to what the sin is (it’s always nice to know exactly what you’ve done wrong, isn’t it?).
Verses 16-19 – Now everyone knows exactly what happened or who did it.
Verse 20-21 – Achan seems to make public confession of his sin. Note that what he took is not worth all that
much, certainly not worth the lives of 36 men and the tainting of the entire nation.
Verses 22-24 – Achan confesses but still has to bear the consequences of his sin. This isn’t so much a picture
of the lack of mercy on the part of God but rather an illustration of just how seriously God takes sin.
Verse 25 – The “them” is not Achan’s family but the things he had taken.
Israel’s victory here is only possible after death – Achan’s death.
Our victories in this life are also only possible after death – Christ’s death and our dying with Christ and rising
again with Him (Baptism).
Wrap up – the lesson for us today.
The punishment of one man (Christ) was enough to absolve all of humanity.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ destroyed sin. This shows us just how serious God is about the
destruction of sin. He sacrificed His only Son so that we can be forgiven of our sin, so that He could destroy our
sin.
If we do not confess and repent, then we are holding on to our sin – sin that will be destroyed and us with it.
Big Idea: God is so serious about sin He sent Jesus to die to get rid of sin.
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