What Is Hiding Under You Tent? Series

Note: I use Max Lucado's book Glory Days as a reference for this message.

Title: What is hiding in your tent?

Theme: To reveal hidden things that we trust in or we

Text: Joshua 6:27 – 7

Joshua 6:27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.

This one verse says a lot. This was a day of victory. God had totally demolished the city of Jericho. Yes it was God. It was God who wrought fear in the Jerichoites. It was God who caused the walls to fall. It was God who used the walls to elevate the Israelites to victory.

Notice also. This victory did not go unnoticed. Joshua’s fame spread throughout all the country. The land of Canaan was there for the taking. It was as if the land of Canaan had put their best city forward. If you could defeat Jericho, you could take the land.

Don’t you love these moments of victory in your life? It is as if you could take on the whole world. No matter what you come up against nothing can stop you.

It would be great if we could stay here. Lets just end here. (“And they all lived happily every after”) Victory has been won. But there is a land to conquer. God doesn’t bring you to victory just to stay here. I hear a lot of people talking about yesterday’s battles and victories. God wants us to march forward and take this territory for Christ.

Sin of Achan – disobedience

Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi,* the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.

There are a few things I wanted to point out.

1. Notice who he says did this – the children of Israel. Why?

Because one sin affects everyone.

2. Notice where he is from – the tribe of Judah. The tribe of David, the tribe of Christ. He sold his whole family short for a few treasure/pleasure.

3. Achan means “troubler, to stir up trouble, afflict”

Joshua 7:11-12 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. (12) Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.

God had Commanded

Joshua 6:18-19 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. (19) But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord."

Accursed – that which has a curse on it.

This was the first city of the land and it belonged to God. One pastor I was listening to compared this land to the tithed. This was a tithed of the land.

Most importantly God had called this land/city a curse. God didn’t want his people living under a curse.

Side note: Living under the curse

Malachi 3:8-12 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. (9) You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. (10) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (11) "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the Lord of hosts; (12) "And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the Lord of hosts.

What rings in my ears are the words “you are cursed with a curse”, “the devourer”.

Obedience is a must.

Some people may ask, what is the big deal? It was just a small thing. This was not about the object it was about obedience and trust.

It is such a small lie –

Just this one time won’t hurt