In the Old Testament, Israel had come into the Promised Land to conquer it, and won a mighty victory over Jericho. But then an insignificant little city called Ai sends God’s people running like whipped puppies.
Why? What causes defeat?
Victories Can Be Followed by Defeats
Joshua 7:4,10a,11
So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai….So the LORD said to Joshua: “…Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.
Israel’s Sin: Carelessness
How was Israel’s carelessness shown?
Pride. When they went out to conquer Ai, the people of Israel said, “We’ve done it before. Don’t send the whole army, Joshua; just send a handful.” (See Joshua 7:3.)
Presumption. Israel presumed that God was with them. They never stopped to check.
Prayerlessness. After they got in trouble, Joshua prayed. “So the LORD said to Joshua: ‘Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?’” (Joshua 7:10) That is, why are you praying now?
Achan’s Sin: Covetousness
Joshua 7:20-21a
Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them.
Covetousness is an unlawful desire that grows in an unsatisfied heart.
Private Sin Is Never Really Private
Hidden sin will bring you to ruin—but you will not suffer alone.
If there is hidden sin in your life, you will cause the people of God to stumble, and bring disgrace to God.
The God of Israel said, “Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you” (Joshua 7:12b). One drop of poison hurts the whole body. (See 1 Corinthians 12:26.)
Achan had thought, I’m doing this by myself. But he hid his sin inside his tent. His family, and everything he had, became partakers of his crime—and now his children are destroyed because of his lie. (Read Joshua 7:24-25.)
God Will Reveal Every Secret Sin
Joshua 7:19
Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
Every sin you cover will be uncovered. If God does not get glory in mercy, He will get glory in judgment. (See Romans 14:11.)
That which is done in secret will be shouted from the rooftop. Things that you have done in your bedroom, on business trips, things nobody knows about.
“For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). If any sin ever goes unpunished, Satan will have won.
God Will Cover Every Confessed Sin
But every sin that you uncover through confession, God will cover.
Proverbs 28:13
He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
The key to victory, to abundant Christian living, is not perfection, but perpetual confession of sin.
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