All Nations Community Church
Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not command you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” These words were spoken to Joshua, but they hold meaning for us today. What has God called us to do? How are we a part of His salvation story? This sermon series through the book of Joshua examines these questions, encouraging listeners to follow God’s commands, even when it’s not easy.
Today: After such a tremendous victory at Jericho, Joshua chapter 7 is surprising to say the least. Suddenly we are presented with a series of failures that stand in striking contrast to the wonderful victories of the past six chapters.
This is the story of life, of failure. Failure is something we each must learn to deal with in our daily walk. One minute we can be living in victory and next in defeat. The distance between a great victory and a terrible defeat is one step, and often only a short one at that.
How have you responded to failure?
Joshua 6:27 ESV
Joshua 7:1-12, 19-21, 25-26 ESV
Failure has a clear cause, vv. 1, 10-12
The next battle the Israelites faced was moral
The Nature of sin is independence from God!
In Ch. 7, portrait of the seriousness of sin... (sin = death):
- 36 Israelites
- Achan
- Achan's family
- Achan's animials
Truth: death is not always physical
- Financial
- Relational
- Spiritual, Romans 6:23
Note the communal nature of sin (v. 1, 11)
- Note that God said Israel sinned, not just Achan
- Sin doesn't just impact the one committing the sin.
Before the public display; there was private devotion (God spoke...)
- Ch. 1:1 – Change in command (Moses to Joshua)
- Ch. 3:7 – Crossing the Jordan
- Ch. 4:1 – Acquiring Memorial stones
- Ch. 5:9 – The reproach of Egypt had been rolled away
- Ch. 6:2 – Reminder that God has given them Jericho
Here, God didn't speak prior to the battle in Ai.
Repentance is the cure for [moral] failure, vv. 19-21, 25-26
Two parts:
- Confession (vv. 19-21)
- Correction (25-26)
Talk it over:
· What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message?
· How have the sins of others negatively affected you? How have your sins negatively affected others?
·How did Joshua respond to the defeat suffered at Ai (7:6-9)? Why might he have responded this way?
· Achan attempted to hide his sin from God and others. Is there a sin in your life that you have been hiding and need to confess?