THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE
Joshua 7:1-25
REBELLION IS BORN OF COVETOUSNESS AND SELFISHNESS
V:1 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord's anger burned against Israel.
God gave Israel victory over Jerico. He commanded them to put to
Death every living thing and bring all the valuable articles back to
The camp is to be put in the Lord’s treasure.
One man Achan, stole some of the valuable articles and hid them in
His tent. Unknown to Joshua and the rest of Israel, Achan’s disobedience
Brought the wrath of God on the entire nation. The consequences of
Ashan’s sin did not show up until the next battle.
We have to be careful that we don’t rob God of what is dedicated to Him.
God gives what we need in excess. We have no need to steal from Him.
Israel had been given the Promised Land and all the wealth in the land.
To continue in His blessings all we have to do is follow His commands.
OVERCONFIDENCE IS A KEY TO FAILURE
Joshua 7:2-5
Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and spy out the region." So the men went up and spied out Ai.
Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." 4 So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this, the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
There are serval things Israel did wrong. So confident in the battle
Against Jerico, they did not go to God in prayer to allow Him to bless the mission and get His strategy for success against Ali.
God's strategy for Israel against Jerico was to march around the city
For six days with the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark represented the presence of God. On the seventh day, March around the the city seven times and blow their horns.
Second, they underestimated the size of Ali's army. Third, they assumed That their victory against Jericho was a guarantee of victory against
Ali. Fourth, they assumed that there was no sin in the camp, and they
Were in complete alignment with God’s will.
Past successes do not guarantee future successes. Total dependency
On God does.
DON’T BLAME GOD FOR YOUR FAILURES
After the the defeat Joshua and the elders blamed God. As was their
Custom, they tore their clothes, fell on their faces, and sprinkled dust
On their heads. They complained to God as they did in the desert of
Why He brought them out of Egypt to be destroyed?
Before we complain to God about our failures, we need to examine ourselves to what sin we have committed. There is always a reason
For our failures and many times it is due to our neglect. At all times
Our failures are designed to teach us valuable lessons.
The best thing to do after a failure is to go to God in prayer and ask for
Guidance and directions. God is always aware of our faults and willing
To give a solution to our problem.
After going to God, He informed them that there was sin in the camp because one of the men had stolen devoted items from Jerico. Because of their sin, He had withdrawn His hand from them and gave Ali success.
Unless the sinful man was removed from the camp there would be no success.
God led Joshua to the family and the man who committed the sin. After
Achan’s confession, the entire family was stoned to death, and their
Items destroyed.
The lesson is a house divided can not stand. The Lord involved the
Entire nation in finding the culvert. He brought before the elders
Tribe by tribe and family by family until Achan’s family was located.
This impressed upon the nation the importance of being obedient
To God’s commands. This also implanted in their minds the horror
Of stone a family to death.
We must understand that the weakness of the Church is in the
Disobedient hearts of believers. One person in the organization
Can bring failure.
By moving through the community to find the thief, It gave Achan
time to come forth and confess his sin and throw himself at the
The mercy of God. He stayed silent through the whole investigation
Until God revealed him to Joshua and the elders.
It is best for us to confess our sins before the Lord as soon as
The Holy Spirit convicts us. If we confess our sins, God, He
Is merciful to forgive.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Achan stood by and allowed the congregation to go through all the families
To find him. His heart was so defiant that he risked the lives of his family
members.
When the people removed the sin from among them, fellowship with the Lord was reestablished. The Israelites learned that their individual sin affected the whole nation.
We need to understand that our sins as parents affect the whole family.
TO LITTLE TO LATE
Joshua 7:20-26
Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
V:22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the Lord.
You cannot wait until the day of judgment to confess Jesus as Lord
And Savior. No sin is hidden from the Lord. Before the Lord every person
Will be judged according to what he has done. No one knows the day or
The hour the Lord will return. It could be today or sometime in the near
Future.
2 Peter 3:7
By the same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
The only way to escape the hell’s fire is the repentance and forgiveness
Form Jesus our Lord and Savior. As with Ashan, time is not on our side.
WITHOUT FORGIVENESS THE JUDGMENT IS DEATH
V:25 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan, son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today."
Then all of Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?
Achan’s sin destroyed him and affected the nation. One’s sin has a
Range of negative effects. Our selfish acts may affect many lives.
36 soldiers were lost because of his theft of items devoted to God.
First, He betrayed the covenant of God
Second, he betrayed the trust of his family
Third, he betrayed the trust of the nation of Israel
Fourth, he betrayed himself.
In the end, Achan’s sin was a rebellion against God and man. His failure to
confess his sin caused the death of him and his family.
We cannot take the consequences of our sins for granted. We may not
Get the chance to confess our sins before judgment comes.
There is little difference between Ashan and us. We rob God of tithes and
Offering that are to be devoted to Him. Selfish acts of disobedience and
And violence causes the death of many people daily.
The lesson is a house divided can not stand. When the people removed
The sin from among them, fellowship with the Lord was reestablished
The Israelites learned that their individual sin affected the whole nation.
A lesson to me, my selfish actions may affect many lives.
CONFESS YOUR SINS TO THE LORD WHILE YOU HAVE BREATH
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