Dealing with Defeat (Joshua 7)
Deafeat can be a very painful but valuable teacher..
1.A disobedient Soldier (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, tooksome of them. So the Lord's anger burned against Israel...vs.20 Achan replied, it is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred sheckels 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.")
The Process of Achan:
- He looked at the treasure that was not his, a second time.
- His second mistake was to rename those treasures "the spoils" (7:21)
Isaiah 5:20 "woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.." - Achan’s 3rd mistake was to covet.
- His 4th mistake was to think that he could get away with is sin by hiding it.
Mathew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2.A defeated Army (Josh. 7:2-5)
Joshua and his officers were walking by sight and not by faith.
"Pride goes before distruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" Prov. 16:18
3.A Discouraged leader (Josh. 7:6-15)
If some of your best plans have ever been broken to pieces then you understand the feeling. Remorse (7:6) Repentance(7:8-9)
4.A discovered sinner (Josh 7:16-26)
*Nobody can hide from God.
This judgment is a lesson to us about how serious sin is to God and how much we need Jesus as our Lord and savior.
What should we do about our sin??
- be totally honest about our condition.
- Confess it before God. 1John 1:9
- Prayerfully make restitution when necessary.
(Private sin private/public sin public)
When you surrender to the Lord, no defeat is permanent and no mistake is beyond repair.
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