253 Joshua: The Agony of Defeat
If there’s one lesson to learn from today’s message, it’s this: As freely as God’s blessing is given to those who obey, it can be removed from those who disobey.
After Israel’s miraculous victory at Jericho, the next strategic target for Joshua’s conquest of the land was the city of Ai. Its small size should have made it an easy win. Instead, Israel was defeated, leaving Joshua and his people angry, ashamed, and confused.
Before we move on with this story, a little flashback is necessary. When God gave Joshua His strategy for taking Jericho, He gave strict instructions for the utter destruction of all the inhabitants of Jericho and the total surrender to the Lord of all the valuable objects found there: silver, gold, bronze, and iron. This “ban” was clearly communicated, but apparently, one man and his family didn’t think God was serious.
After their defeat, Joshua fell facedown before the Lord, pouring out his heart, trying to understand what went wrong. Finally, God told him to stand up and call the people together. There was sin in the camp.
Following the Lord’s orders, Joshua had the tribes come forward, one by one, until Judah was chosen. Then Judah came forward by clans, then by families, and then man by man until one man was chosen. Achan.
Joshua beseeched him, “Tell me what you have done; don’t hide it.” Achan confessed. He had taken silver, gold, and valuable things and buried them beneath his tent.
When the contraband was found, Joshua took Achan and all his family and all he owned and had them stoned and then burned.
Hidden sin is no small matter to God. We dare not let the Evil One’s lies or our own rationalization cause us to downplay sin. We need to call sin what God calls it.
Hidden sin is seen by God. Nothing is hidden from God.
Hidden sin removes God’s hand of blessing. As a wise parent, God cannot and will not reward rebellion. Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper…”
Hidden sin will eventually be exposed. Hebrews 4:13 puts it plainly: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
But there is hope. Hidden sin can be forgiven. Proverbs 28:13 started by warning us, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper…” But it continues, “but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
To confess is to say the same thing about your sin that God does. “It’s wrong…and I’ve been wrong.” To renounce or to repent is to have a change of mind and make a change of action. “I’m so sorry and I’m going to stop doing that.” And to receive forgiveness is to believe Jesus paid the penalty. His grace is enough, even for that.
Text: Joshua 7
Originally recorded on September 25, 2016, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN