Have you ever had one of those days when everything went wrong? It is like the lawyer speaking to his client: "I have good news and bad news." "What’s the good news?" asks the client. "The jury is deadlocked." "Well, what’s the bad?" Responds the lawyer, "They can’t decide whether to hang you or shoot you." Murphy’s law (Whatever can go wrong will) and all its corollaries kick-in on days like that.
A Baptist Associational meeting had a layman read all the names of church members who had died during the past year. When he completed his task he sat down, and the music director for the session stepped to the podium and asked the congregation to join him in singing, "Revive Us Again."
Joshua had one of those days. During the conquest of Jericho the people had been told that all the valuables of that city were to be devoted to the Lord; nothing was to be touched Just when things were going well, one of the brethren got greedy. Achan, of the tribe of Judah, took some beautiful clothing and some silver and gold for himself. God was not amused. The very next time the Israelites went to fight -- this time against a puny little city called Ai -- they were (as we say it in the South) "whupped good!" Israel went to battle with about 3,000 troops, while Ai only had a small company. The scripture says that the Aites chased Israel out of town and out to the quarries. It was like the Dallas Cowboys being shut out by Jackson High’s J.V. squad.
What do you do when things go wrong? The world has so many offerings. There are self-help publications galore -- "How To Get Up When You’re Down" "Climbing the Ladder To Anywhere" "Say No in Three Words or Less" "Thirteen Million Steps To Success."
The Bible presents the only genuine alternative in the sea of worldly solutions...Biblical Self-Evaluation. Note the principles we must recognize:
EVEN GREAT LEADERS CAN BE FOOLED
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. 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. 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." So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 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. Josh 7:1-5 (NIV)
Men are not infallible -- Christian leaders are but men. Stuart Briscoe tells of a young preacher friend of his who was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran. The deceased’s military friends wanted to take part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested the pastor to lead them out through a side door. This he proceeded to do, but unfortunately the effect was somewhat marred when he picked the wrong door. The result was that they marched with military precision into a broom closet, in full view of the mourners, and had to beat a hasty retreat covered with confusion. Cardinal rule: If you’re going to lead, make sure you know where you’re going!
Another example of this is the Moskva Hotel, a huge, misshapen and asymmetrical building near the former Kremlin. According to legend, an architect created two different designs for the building and then sent the designs to Stalin for him to approve one or the other. Stalin, not paying attention to the designs, signed his approval to both and sent them back. No one dared bring the mistake to his attention, so the hotel was built using two very different designs.
Joshua was human, and couldn’t have known of the deceit in Achan’s heart. Leaders can be fooled. Recognizing that ought to make most leaders sensitive to their own limitations.
PRAYER IS THE CORRECT RESPONSE
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down 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. 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! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies 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?" Josh 7.6-9
An anonymous C.E.O. of a major corporation recently said, "The trouble with being a leader today is you can’t be sure whether people are following you or chasing you." Joshua was upset! He couldn’t imagine what he’d done wrong to suffer such a defeat. He did what we should all do when perplexed -- He put himself in God’s hands, on his face, questions, doubt, fear and all!
GOD WILL ALWAYS ANSWER HONEST PRAYER
The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Josh 7:10 (NIV)
Joshua did what we should do -- he waited around for an answer. So often we leave off praying before God answers. Notice how God’s answer got right to the heart of what needed to be done.
YOU CAN’T DO GOD’S WORK WITH SIN IN THE CAMP
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. 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. Josh 7:11 (NIV)
There are two related principles contained in this. First, we must Discover Sin
We must always be honest with searching our own hearts and lives. One time James Baker gave then President Ronald Reagan a briefing book to study before the next day’s world economic summit at Williamsburg, Virginia. When Baker discovered the next morning that Reagan hadn’t so much as looked at the papers, he asked him why. "Well, Jim," said the president. "The Sound of Music was on."
It is important that we are honest in evaluating what we do for the Lord. Joshua had prayed earnestly for the Lord’s answers. Here he had all the information he needed.
So he then needed to Deal with Sin
"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. "’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. 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!’" Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. 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. 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. 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." Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 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." So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD. Josh 7:13-23 (NIV)
Most people today don’t want to deal with sin in an open way. I understand this. Human beings do not want to have their pet sins trotted out before the community. One thing is certain -- God will never deal with the need we have for revival in our country, our church and our families unless we get honest before God and each other about our sin.
SOME THINGS HAVE TO GO UNDER THE BAN
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. 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. 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 ever since Josh 7:24-26 (NIV)
Achan was stoned. It seems inconsistent that a man who confesses should be treated that harshly. The problem is that Achan confessed only after he was found out. That should remind us that salvation is only for those who submit to the Lord before it is too late. Also, it tells us that forgiveness is possible, but some consequences are inevitable, even when confession is made. It is better to refrain from sin, than to flirt with being found out like Achan.
A further truth...God has placed many things under the ban. He hates pride, prejudice and strife between brothers. When we find those things in our own lives and attitudes, we should deal with them with the same method that Israel used on Achan -- stone them. What results is the same as Israel experienced (as recorded in chapter 8).
God’s forgiveness was experienced (v.1)
God’s directions were followed (v.3)
God’s victories were won (v.13-22)
God’s love affirmed (v.34-35)
That’s effective Christian leadership.
