Rev. E. Anderson
The book of Joshua is a good bible book for Christians to study for it gives illustration of, we, too, like Israel should learn to possess their inheritance that God has promised in Christ. There are lessons to learn for all. May you discovered much from the following notes.
INTO THE LAND OF PROMISE – THE BOOK OF JOSHUA
A TASTE OF DEFEAT
JOSHUA 7
CONTRAST: It all happened so suddenly. Joshua and Israel were riding high, their spirits and confidence in the best possible state and quickly a major victory is set back with a stunning defeat. Jericho which had been a powerful stronghold had been overturned whilst Ai a small vulnerable place became a venue of disaster with the loss of 36 men. It is a reminder and warning that at the height of progress and blessing things can go immediately wrong. The contrast is quite staggering. Israel did consider the taking of Ai as easy meet. Those who viewed the place did not feel it warranted taxing all the people with this conflict – vv2-4.
COMPLEXITY: Joshua was in immediate dilemma and complexity of mind and spirit and it wrought a very negative attitude in the people –v5 and in himself. This comes out in his praying – v7. They are somewhat shattered by these developments so soon after the delight of triumph. This tiny thing wrought havoc amongst them and they wondered what was going on. Faith, confidence and courage were directly affect and doubt surfaced. What could be done now in the face of such an awful event and disaster? This is where the leadership of Joshua was sorely and severely tested. It is good to know that he had someone to turn to for an answer.
1/. THERE HAD TO BE A DESPERATE INQUIRING OF THE LORD – vv5-9
The first thing to do was to humble himself with the leadership before the Lord – v6. He gave a lead to his leaders and made them see it was right and time to present this issue before Him. He must have sensed there was something not right in their procedure that had caused this temporary lapse, something he did not know that had brought this awful tragedy. There was no arrogance of mind or heart, only a submissive spirit. He had learned through his association with Moses that something was amiss on the peoples’ part for a thing of this nature to occur.
There are questions to be asked and exclamations to be made in His presence – vv7-9. He was utterly baffled and bewildered and so the true expression of his heart as to why and what about the future. He came to the point of saying why not leave us where we were the other side of Jordan rather than be exposed to ultimate defeat. He is alarmed at the prospect of His people running away from the conflict with their enemies. And what this news will do to the morale of their enemies. The ultimate reproach: what about your great Name? In this inquiry he leaves nothing out of importance. The matter is squarely placed before the Lord.
2/. THERE WAS THE DIVULGING OF THE CAUSE OF DEFEAT – vv10-15
The Lord was not slow to respond to the honesty and earnestness of His servant and makes him sense and see that the problem was not on His front but Israel’s. It was not a time really for lying before the Lord but inquiring amongst the people that something was wrong in their midst.
The Lord is quick to make this point – v11. He shows that the failure of Ai was due to a failure that had taken place at Jericho. The scene of the major victory had been the place where there had been the laying the foundation of future defeat. There had not been compliance to the divine word that had taken place. Joshua had assumed that everyone had responded and taken heed to the directive and command that had been given but this had not been so. The real problem was that just one individual thought he could get away with it and not be found out.
Another failure was in the fact that Joshua had not sought the Lord in the taking of Ai. If he had done so he could well have discovered that God’s people were not really in the position to accomplish this simple conflict because of sin in the camp. It was a mistake that was to prove costly. The danger of assumption is always a present reality and must be avoided.
t was made plain to Joshua that there would be no further progress nor could they rely of His presence unless this matter was dealt with – vv12,13. The cursed factor had to be removed so that relationship would be right and the basis of blessing and victory established.
3/. THERE WAS THE SIFTING OUT PROCESS THAT HAD TO OCCUR - v16-18
There was no slackness or lack of diligence on Joshua’s part –v16. As far as he was concerned there had to be no delay, it could not be put off. There had to be bringing to light the offender and offence so things could be initiated again. No doubt he did not sleep that night realizing that there had to be a sorting out and a sifting so that the culprit and the sin be exposed.
There is first of all the sifting of the tribes – v16. From the tribe of Judah the family of the Zarhites man by man and Zabdi was taken. His family was sifted man by man until Achan was taken – v18. It was quite an ordeal for a nation and for a tribe to be put through. There had to be action taken until there came the isolation of the one concerned. There was the sifting of the sinner and of the sin – see later Nathan/David.
4/. THERE WAS THE REVELATION OF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE -vv19-23
This man, Achan, had to own up because he had been sorted out and no mistake was made. Joshua demanded what he had done so that there would be honest confession before God and the whole of Israel. This was a serious matter because God and His people had been involved in his sinful deed.
It was the sin of covetousness that lay at the heart of the problem and disaster. He had jeopardized the blessedness and progress of Israel in act of utter folly in going after garments, silver and gold. He had been overcome by the immediate instead of the ultimate. Such would have been his lot as they moved on to successive victories. The temporary moment had clouded the future prospect. But his failure had projected a greater failure and defeat. And this was not on. It was blight on God and His elect household.
5/. THERE WAS THE ABSOLUTE REMOVALOF THE OFFENCE AND OFFENDER -vv24-26
There came the moment when the most drastic action of all had to be taken, the utter removal of him, his family, property and goods. He was to lose everything and so the stoning and firing took place until nothing remained. It was a costly factor. There was nothing left but to obey God’s command and see that all was removed from the camp of an offensive nature – v13. All Israel must come to see the seriousness of complete obedience to God. The nation could not afford to be causal in their relationship or compromise on any issue.
A lasting memorial was made with the heap of stones and in the naming of the place – “The valley of Achor” -v26. What a terrible thing to go down in history for!
CONCLUSION
The divine assurance is revealed that the thing had been dealt with. Having dealt with the matter the Lord is ready to move forward with His people to secure the great objective, the overcoming of Israel’s enemies and the possession of the land. Things were now back on track and God’s people knew that they would secure all before them. This incident would be lesson and a constant reminder to see that they followed through divine orders to the detail.
