This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Consequences of Disobedience", Joshua 7

              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

Bible Series: The Holy Spirit Introduction

 GREAT RESOURCES

When Jesus ascended back into heaven, He left us with two great resources;

the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. The Word is for our instructions

directions, and discipline. The Holy Spirit is the power of the Word.

John 14:25-27

"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to remind us of the Word. Another job is to

teach us the right meaning of the Word.

Acts 1:7-8

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The Holy Spirit is the driver of the ministry of Jesus Christ. Living within us is the

power of God.

In this verse and others throughout the Old and New Testaments the Holy Trinity

is revealed; God the Father, God The Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One God

in three persons.

GOD THE FATHER: Ephesians 1:2

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ

GOD THE SON: John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning (Jesus is the Word)

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

GOD IS HOLY

He is pure and without sin

Hebrews 7:26

26 Such a high priest meets our need — one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

GOD IS INFINITE

God has no boundaries. Nothing can contain Him

Acts 17:24-25

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he gives all men life and breath and everything else

GOD IS OMNISCIENT

God knows everything. God cannot learn anything

Isaiah 46:10

10 I make known the end from the beginning,

from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: My purpose will stand,

and I will do all that I please.

GOD IS OMNIPRESENT

Psalms 139:7-10

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

NIV

GOD IS OMNIPOTENT

The power of God cannot be measured or even comprehended by the human mind

He created everything out of nothing.

Isaiah 55:11

So is my word that goes out of my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

GOD IS LOVE

1 John 4:16-17

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world we are like him.

GOD IS ETERNAL

God has no ending and no beginning. He always existed.

Isaiah 40:28

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Psalms 90:2

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS

Psalms 11:7

For the Lord is righteous,

he loves justice; upright men will see his face.

THE LORD IS SOVEREIGN

Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?"

35 "Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay him?"

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen.

GOD IS UNCHANGING

Hebrews 13:9

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "A Fwe Faithful Men:, Judges 7 and *

    A FEW FAITHFUL MEN ARE         

               MORE THAN THE ENEMY

                                 Judges 7:3-4, 13-15, 8:22-25

SEE THE MAN, HELP HIM WITH HIS PROBLEMS

It would be good to walk in a man’s shoes before complaining about 

His behavior.  The Israelites had a habit of rejecting the true Living

God when life was good. In disobedience, they worshipped

the idol gods of Baal and Asherah

God had a habit of punishing them by allowing

The enemy of the promised land to oppress them. When the Israelites

Couldn’t stand the oppression, they cried out to God, who gave them

Relief.

This time,  the Midianites and the other inhabitants of the land had

Devoured their crops and livestock for seven years leaving them with

Little to survive on. The Israelites cried out to God for help and He called

Gideon to be their savior. 

GOD CALLS THE OBEDIENT, NOT THE STRONG

Gideon was the youngest son in his family in the smallest tribe of Israel. He was hard At work threshing grain in the wine press out of the sight of the Midianites When he was visited by an angel of the Lord. God does not choose the Strongest or the wisest men for His missions. He calls the ones that are Obedient to His Commands.

Gideon understood the seriousness of the call, so he prepared an offering

For the Angel which was consumed by fire. The Angel assured Gideon

Of his success against Midianite.

Gideon was a righteous man but had little faith. He wanted to be sure that

The message was from God. He laid a fleece on the ground  at night and asked the Angel to allow the morning dew to wet the fleece, but keep the

Ground dry. The second test was to allow the dew to make the ground

Wet, but the fleece was dry. Gideon accepted this as proof that the angel's message was a call by God to lead Israel into war against the Midianites.

The faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. 

When we look at Israel’s pattern we should see ourselves. How often have

We ignored God’s commands and followed our own desires. It is when we

Face trials and tribulations, we are moved to get serious about prayer and call on God. It is when trouble is at our door and there is no way out that We call on the Lord. Disobedience brings trouble. And trouble opens

Our eyes to God. Because we have been chosen by God, His mercy

Allows Him to hear our cries.

Gideon accepted the charge and called the men of several tribes

To battle. 

GOD WILL GIVE YOU RIGHT HELP FOR SUCCESS

Judges 7:1-5

V:7.1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, 3 announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 

The men of Gideon’s tribe gave him the name Jerub-Baal after he tore

Down the idol altar of Baal and the pole of Asherah. The name means

Let Baal plead. The Israelites had to plead to God because they worshipped Baal in their disobedience.

Because the worshippers of Baal would have prevented the destruction

Of their Baal altar,  Gideon tore down their altar and built an altar for God using their material during the night.

 Gideon was commanded to make a burnt Offering to the Lord. Gideon reverenced the Lord with his offering and was sanctified for the battle.

God will equip us to serve before He puts us in service. First God established communication with Gideon through the angel. Second,

He prepared the heart of Gideon to serve by reestablishing the offering at the altar. Third He encouraged Gideon to serve with the promise of success. Fourth,  God prepared the Heart of the Israelites to serve with him. Fifth, God gave Gideon the strategy for success in battle.

The men of his tribe who worshipped Baal wanted to kill Gideon. One of the men of the tribe inspired by Gideon’s boldness spoke up and asked are you taking sides with Baal? If he is really a god, he will kill Gideon.  

Notice Israel cried out to God for help but wanted to hold onto their

altar of Baal. You cannot have God and the world. Among disobedient people, God always has one who will speak for Him.

One of the men in the family spoke up for Baal’s power which was no

Power at all. 

Before you can expect God to help, you must clean up your act.

By tearing down the altar of Baal and building the altar for the Lord,

Gideon showed his tribe they needed to restore their worship to one

True God who has all power.

Having his faith strengthened, Gideon listened to God and followed

His directions.  

GOD WILL PROVIDE THE HELP YOU NEED

God knows the hearts of men. Most of the men who answered the call to battle were not ready to fight for God. The majority showed up for

Show and not for service. God thinned the crown to a few

Good dedicated men. 

 

First, God dismissed 22000 men who were afraid to fight. Fear is 

The opposite of faith. The fearful men would corrupt the faithful

few.

V:4 But the Lord said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go." 

Not only do men need faith to battle for God but they need to be fit. 

Those men who kneel and lap water like a dog broke rank to

Feed their desire. Those who used their curved hand to drink water

While holding on to their weapons kept a watchful eye while satisfying

Their thirst. The latter were the ones whom God chose for battle.

To ensure Israel Would not take credit for the victory, God dismissed another 9700 men. This left 300 men who would go to battle against the 135000 heavily armed Midianite troops in the valley with too many

Tents and camels to be numbered.

To boost Gideon's confidence, God gave Gideon two other signs. 

He placed a dream in the mind of one of the men in the Midianite camp.

Gideon and his servant Purah went to the edge of the camp.

CONFIDENCE IN GOD IS ALL WE NEED

Judges 7:13-16

V:13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed." 

V:14 His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands." 

God knows our state of mind. He knows what to do to build our confidence

In Him. At times we all have some doubts that God will come take care

Of our situation. Stories like this in the Bible remind us that God uses 

Ordinary people like us to accomplish His plan. There is no job we cannot

Handle with God on our side.

Those that seem confident and invincible may be putting on a front.

Underneath maybe a scared kid ready to run. God knows how to

Undermind the confidence of your enemy. When God is with you, He

Is more than the whole world against you. 

BEGIN YOUR BATTLE WITH WORSHIP

V:15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands." 

We all need a pep talk from time to time. It may come from someone

We don’t know. We may be eavesdropping on someone's conversation

And get a word from the Lord. We may get a word from a TV program.

We will always get a word from the Word. God knows what it takes to 

Inspire and encourage us.

The first step in your battle against the enemy is praise and worship

Of the Father. When you start with worship you invite God into your

Service. Recognizing God as your leader and guide is an advantage

Of the believer. We can do nothing without God. The leader must

Lead the troops in worship.

The 300 Israelites armed with horns, glass jars, and lighted torches 

Went to the edge of the camp and stood in the middle of the night until Gideon gave the order. When Gideon gave the order, the men sounded the

Horns, broked the jars and shouted. This caused confusion and fear

Among the Midianite troops. Not being able to see each other they

Killed each other leaving only 15000 of the troops alive. 

Gideon and his 300-man army went after the remaining Midianites.

He called on other Israelite tribes to join in the fight. There will

Be someone in your family who will not rejoice in victory with Lord.

Gideon summoned other tribes to pursue and capture the remaining

15000 Midianites. But the tribe of Ephraim criticized Gideon for

Not including them in the original battle. It would have inflamed the situation

If Gideon had said God didn’t call you to start the battle. Instead Gideon

Praised them for victories that had against the Midianites which calm

Them. 

With the help of all the tribes Gideon summoned, the Midianites were

Subdued. And God gave Israel rest for another forty years.          

NEVER TAKE CREDIT FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE

Judges 8:22-26

V:22 The Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us — you, your son and your grandson — because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian." 

23 But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you."

How quickly we forget what God has done for us. With the threat of the

Midianites gone, Isreal returned to their old way of wanting

A man to lead them. They did not see God as the one who gave them

Victory over the Midianites. They did not see the miracle of 300 men

Chasing 135000 heavily armed troops. They did not see God stepping

In and getting rid of the enemy that had been devouring  their crops

For seven years. They forgot their cry to God for help.

Their focus was on a man to be their leader. They did not want God

To take charge of their everyday living. They did not want to commit to

God’s commands,

It takes a humble leader not to take credit for the victories won. Gideon

Was quick to point to God as their leader. 

We can get so excited about success that we forget that success does

Not begin or end with us. It starts with God and continues with God.

NEVER STOP SEEKING GOD’S COUNSEL 

V: 24 And he said, "I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder." (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.) 

25 They answered, "We'll be glad to give them." So they spread out a garment, and each man threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 

Judges 8:27

 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All of Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. 

Even the best of us need continuous training in the Word of God. The ephod was the decoration on the bottom of the priest's outer robe. 

Why Gideon thought he needed a large ephod made of gold not attached

To a priest, I do not know. His action encouraged the Israelites to worship

An idol.  Perhaps he fashioned the ephod out of ignorance of the Word.

As leaders, we need to be careful to study the Word to know how to apply it in every area of our lives.

When we have an idea that is different from the Word of God, It is

Probably not pleasing to God. The priest had the Word of God.

Failure to study the Word leads to wrong conclusions.