Cornerstone Church November 16, 2014
“Whole Lotta Achan Goin' On!”
Joshua 7
“How’s That Again?
The following newspaper headlines were gathered by Bob Reid in Delhi, India.
Lingerie Shipment Hijacked – Thief Gives Police the Slip
Patient at Death’s Door – Doctors Pull Him Through
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
Killer Sentenced to Die for Second Time in Ten Years
Twenty-Year Friendship Ends at the Altar
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Police Discover Crack in Australia
Collegians Are Turning to Vegetables
Caribbean Islands Drift to the Left”
“Holman Old Testament Commentary – Joshua”, pg. 117 by Kenneth O. Gangel
Communication is not always easy!
* We say one thing but either it comes out another way or the hearer misunderstands it!
* We are going to see this morning that when God speaks to His people and He gives instructions to them they are to listen and obey!
o The Bible, God’s Word is His inspired and infallible written revelation to the world.
o The EFCA Statement goes on to say this about the Bible in the second part:
“…the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.”
God gave The 10 Commandments to His people not the 10 suggestions (or really good ideas).
Although New Testament saints are not saved by keeping the 10 Commandments they do reflect the Holy and Righteous nature and character of God – who is the same, yesterday, today and forever!
Failure to obey the Word of God not only affects the individual who is disobedient but it can have devastating consequences on others around them.
We will see that firsthand this morning!
When I spoke two weeks ago the Children of Israel were on the verge of entering the Promised Land.
The nearly 700-year-old promise made by God to Abraham was being fulfilled.
* God held up His people in Egypt for 400 years to give the people of the land time to repent before judgment was going to fall on them.
* Rahab the Harlot put her faith in the One True God who is God of Heaven and Earth.
o She was Rescued and Redeemed!
o She became a true Israelite – Follower of God – transformed!
o She became a princess and an ancestor of the LORD Jesus Christ.
* The people consecrated themselves as the LORD required of them!
o The people crossed over the Jordan River at Flood Stage – God was upstream and stopped the river
o Camped at Gilgal (for further consecration)
* Men were circumcised
* Celebrated the Passover
* Instructions were given on how they were to take the Walled / Fortress City of Jericho
o March around the city once a day for six days – Ark and 7 Priests playing seven trumpets
o Seventh day march around the city seven times – Ark and 7 Priests playing seven trumpets and when they sounded the trumpet blast have all the people “SHOUT!”
“For the LORD has given you the city!”
“and the walls came a-tumbling down!”
GOD’S CLEAR INSTRUCTION AND WARNING:
Josh. 6:17-19 NIV The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury.”
GOD BROUGHT ABOUT A GLORIOUS VICTORY!
* Jericho belonged to God!
* The riches of Jericho were a First Fruits offering to God!
* The detestable things, food and everything else left for God!
THE MESSAGE SEEMS CLEAR RIGHT?
* Don’t touch!
* It all belongs to God!
Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
Gen. 2:16-17 NIV And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
All of this is fair game and free range! Just not from this tree!
Outline from Kenneth O. Gangle – Holman Old Testament Commentary – Joshua, pg. 130
1. FAILURE BRINGS HUMILITY – Joshua 7:1-9
2. FAILURE REQUIRES ACCOUNTABILITY – Joshua 7:10-18
3. FAILURE DEMANDS PUNISHMENT – Joshua 19-26
The Battle for Ai is about to begin!
“…If God is For Us Who can be Against us!”
Rom 8:31b
FAILURE BRINGS HUMILITY
Joshua 7:1-9
Josh. 7:1 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.
Josh. 7:2 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.
Josh. 7:3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the people will have to go up against 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.
THE OUTCOME:
* Men of Ai routed them
* Killed 36
* Chased them down (Jericho 800’ below sea level – Ai 2,500’ above sea level)
* Hearts of Israelites melted like water (same fear as the people of the land)
WHAT HAPPENED? Where was God?
Haven’t we asked that before? Joshua and the Elders go to prayer!
Josh. 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”
JOSHUA QUESTIONS GOD:
* Why bring us here to hand us over to our enemies?
* It was better for us to stay where we were than face these daily problems
* What can I say now that we lost?
* What then will you do for your own great name?
God to Joshua, “You want Answers?” Joshua, “I want the truth!”
FAILURE REQUIRES ACCOUNTABILITY
Joshua 7:10-18
Josh. 7:10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.
GOD’S REASONS GIVEN TO JOSHUA:
* Broke my Covenant (acted unfaithfully)
* Taken some of the Devoted Things (first fruits offering to God)
* Stolen
* Lied
* Mingled what belonged to God with their own possessions!
Josh. 7:12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
GOD’S FAVOR HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN:
* The whole nation is now experiencing God’s disfavor and removal of His blessing because of one individual’s sin of going through the rubble and taking some of the spoils of war home and burying it in his tent.
* How did God know what happened?
o GOD IS OMNISCIENT – “All-Knowing”
o GOD IS OMNIPRESENT – “Everywhere Present”
* Why do we think we can hide our sin (s) from God?
o Why do we think God will not notice when we relegate Him to the backseat or second place in our lives?
o This is not meant to be a message on Giving (whether you hold to tithing or grace giving – giving out of the abundance of how God has blessed you).
Do we think God cannot see or that He is blind when we rob Him of the First Fruits Offering that is His?
GOD’S SOLUTION:
Josh. 7:13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.
Josh. 7:14 “ ‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the LORD takes shall come forward man by man. 15 He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!’”
All of Israel is to be a part of the process because all Israel is responsible!
Josh. 6:18 NIV But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it.
GOD IS GOING TO REVEAL THE GUILTY PARTY!
* Tribe by tribe
* Clan by clan
* Family by family
WHY?
He has violated {broken} the covenant of the LORD
and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!’”
Let’s put this into perspective.
* If God is bringing judgment on the Amorites and Canaanites because of their sin because of His Holiness, Righteous and Justice is it right for Him to ignore the sin of His own people?
1 Pet. 4:17 ESV For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
The children of Israel have all night to think about this and sleep on it.
I wonder if it was like a scene from “The Tell-Tale Heart” for the guilty one?
All night waiting!
“Villains!” I shrieked, “Dissemble no more! I admit the deed! - tear up the planks- here, here!- It is the beating of his hideous heart.”
Edgar Allan Poe “The Tell-Tale Heart”
THE NET IS CLOSING AND THE NOOSE IS TIGHTENING!
Josh. 7:16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. 18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
FAILURE DEMANDS PUNISHMENT
Joshua 7:19-26
Josh. 7:19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
JOSHUA MAKES FOUR STATEMENTS:
* Give Glory to God
* Praise Him (Confess to Him)
* Confess what you have done!
* Do not lie / hide it!
WHY HAD HE DONE THIS?
God had given the nation a mighty victory at Jericho!
* Why had Achan’s affections drifted from God?
* Was he tired of the years of Manna in the Wilderness?
* Was he tired of wearing the same old clothes for 40 years?
* Did He think God was denying him of good things?
Josh. 7:20 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.”
PATHOLOGY OF SIN:
* I saw
o Babylonian Robe (Robe of Shinar – area of the Tower of Babel)
o 200 Shekels of Silver
o Wedge of Gold – 50 Shekels
* I coveted
* I took them (reclassified them from first fruits offering to war spoils)
* I hid them
IT IS ALL JUST STUFF (worthless next to a relationship with God)!
* The gold and silver reflect the desire for money.
* The beautiful Babylonian Garment (robe from Shinar) reflects trying to fit in with the culture (sought after like the Golden Fleece).
o Babylon was the Paris of the Ancient world!
o Babylonian Garment was like having an Armani Suit!
Perhaps Achan tried to reclassify the devoted things (just war spoils):
Is. 5:20 NIV Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
It seems that a lot of reclassification is going in society and within the American Church.
* Achan by keeping and holding on to the goods for himself placed his happiness above the Glory of God, obedience to Him and the welfare of his people.
* Achan might have helped by being a part of a Men’s Bible Study where others could encourage him and hold him accountable “as iron sharpens iron!”
* Others might find this accountability and support in a Small Group or Titus 2.
“Achan was guilty of holding one of the trademark beliefs of our age, namely, that personal happiness and fulfillment should override every other consideration.”
“Opening Up Joshua”, pg. 75, Roger Ellsworth
Achan followed the same path as Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)
Gen. 3:6 NIV When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Gen. 3:8 NIV Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
ADAM AND EVE HAD PERFECT FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND ABSOLUTE FREEDOM
* Any tree for them was oaky to eat from but one!
* Can we eat off this one, LORD? Yes! How about that one, LORD? Absolutely!
o No weeds
o No bugs
o All organic!
God is good, gracious and wants to meet the needs of His children!
But sin is out!
WHEN WE SIN:
* We can Hide!
* We can Deny!
* We can Deflect!
* We can Run!
But we cannot escape God!
Psa. 139:7-8 NIV Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
ACHAN’S SIN AND FAILURE:
* Stealing – broke the 7th Commandment
* Broke God’s Covenant
* Lied – broke the 8th Commandment
* Committed Idolatry – broke the 1st Commandment
* Coveted – broke the 10th Commandment
JOSHUA VERIFIED:
Josh. 7:22 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.
They spread it all out for Joshua, the people and the LORD to see
DEATH SENTENCE DELIVERED:
Josh. 7:24 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 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 (trouble) ever since.
THE OUTCOME:
* Stoned Him
* Stoned them
* Burned them
* Piled rocks on them (remains to this day)
Important Notes:
* If any one in his family was innocent the Old Testament allowed for them to be spared.
* It is obvious that Achan did not repent! He confessed he was guilty (remorse) but repentance did not come.
Rahab the Harlot Achan
Believing Canaanite Disbelieving Israelite
Acted Faithfully Acted Faithlessly
Rescued/Redeemed Not delivered/Destroyed
Became an Israelite Became a Canaanite
“The New American Commentary – Joshua” – Vol. 5, pg. 187, by David M. Howard, Jr.
If we think this is harsh must learn more about God!
Unless we flee to Christ as our Savior and hide ourselves in his atoning work on the Cross we too would perish.
Rom. 3:23 NIV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Rom. 6:23 NIV For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Please do not believe the lie or doubt for one moment that God does not take sin seriously!
* Do not every think that God knows we are just human and are going to sin!
* Do not think He just smiles and winks at us when we sin!
Sin is so offensive to God that a payment was needed to satisfy His Holiness, Wrath, Justice and Judgment!
* Jesus – God the SON provided that sacrifice on the Cross as the sinless Lamb of God!
* This is Biblical Christianity! There is no salvation outside of the LORD Jesus Christ and His Work on the Cross!
The story of Achan is a warning for us all not to toy with sin or tempt God!
* I’m not trying to promote some form of legalism!
* I’m not seeking to promote a works salvation (although if works or fruit are not present beware of your profession of faith).
* I am trying to say that if we are going to go forth and make a difference in our world as Light and Salt for Christ and His Kingdom;
Wrestling with the forces of Darkness and Seeking to tear down strongholds we cannot do it alone in our own strength.
o We must be consecrated before the LORD!
o We must be filled with the Holy Spirit!
o We must go forth with His Presence!
If we are not consecrated (set aside) to the LORD we will fair no better than Israel did against Ai!
If we are not consecrated our attempt to make a difference for Christ will be like trying to start a fire after a monsoon with a piece of flint and steal.
But if we remain consecrated to the LORD and we go forth with His presence, power and blessing to make a difference for Him in our world the monsoon of our pagan culture will be no more difficult than Elijah facing the 450 Prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.
1Kings 18:37-39 NIV Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!”
It is okay if the church is made of misfits and ragamuffins those God has transformed into saints (just like Rahab)!
* The church is supposed to be in the world!
* But the world system (zeitgeist) is not supposed to be in the heart of the Believer any more than water is supposed to be in the inside of the ship floating on the ocean!
* Too much water in a ship sinks the ship!
1 Pet. 2:9-10 NIV But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Achan took his eyes off of God thinking God was not enough to satisfy him and traded that relationship with God for the temporal stuff of this world!
Junk food!
Achan’s premature desire missed God’s blessing that was just around the corner:
Josh. 8:2a NIV You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves….”
CLOSING THOUGHTS:
If the Holy Spirit turned His searchlight on our hearts this morning what would He find?
* What idols are buried deep within our hearts?
* What would be unearthed in our tent that we have taken or kept from God and buried it?
* Does Jesus have our whole heart or do we still keep Him our of compartments of our life?
* Do you know Him as your Savior?
God is gracious and He wants us to come to Him
and live for Him everyday wholehearted!
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
You Are My All and All
Dennis Jernigan
