Joshua 7:6- 15
I. v. 6-15 ISRAEL ENCOUNTERED A TERRIBLE SUMMONS
Il. Israel did not know what was wrong. All they knew was that they had just suffered their first defeat. By the way, this would be their only defeat!
God wants His people to have the victory, not the defeat. So, He takes the necessary steps to reveal to the nation of Israel just exactly where the problem lies.
A. v. 6-9 Joshua’s Amazement – After this tragedy occurs, Joshua finds himself before the Lord in prayer. His prayer is from a broken heart, v. 6. Still, there is also a hint of anger and accusation against the Lord. Joshua is going to learn that prayer is the correct recourse in a time of trouble. He will also learn that prayer will avail nothing until sin has been dealt with, Psa. 66:18; James 5:16b!
Joshua wonders why Israel was powerless in the battle. The answer would not be found in blaming God, or in disputing His will. The answer would be found in their own hearts!
Ill. After we have made decisions that bring terrible consequences, it’s too late to play the blame game. It’s never the right time to accuse God of anything. Ill. This has been going on since the beginning – Gen. 3:9-13.
When there is a tragedy in our lives, we need to look within and see where the problem is. When there is a lack of power in my life, the problem is not with God, nor is it with others, the problem is always with me!
The same is true in the church. When there is powerlessness in the church and souls are not being saved; when the services are dull and lifeless, we need not blame the Lord! He is doing His part. The problem is always a problem within!
B. v. 10-15 God’s Announcement – While Joshua and Israel try to figure out what is happening, God in Heaven already knows and reveals it to Joshua. He tells him that there is sin in the camp of Israel! He tells Joshua that this sin why He is withholding His power and allowing them to be defeated, v. 12. He tells Joshua how to discover the guilty party.
In these words, to Joshua, God gives us some insights into sin. We need to pay attention to what God has to say in these verses. Let us share few observations concerning sin and its effects in our lives:
1. God Knows About Our Sins – v. 11 – Pro. 15:3; Heb. 4:13 – We are not hiding anything from Him!
2. God hates our sins – v. 11 –Pro. 6:16-19 – It offends Him, and He will not simply look the other way!
3. God has a plan for our sins – v. 14-15 – Pro. 28:13; 1 John 1:9; Psa. 32:5 – He wants us to get honest about our condition. He expects confession and repentance.
4. God will punish our sins – v. 15 – Gal. 6:7-8 – There is always a price to pay for rebellion and disobedience!
5. Sin always affects those around us – v. 11-12 – No one sins in a vacuum. Your sins and mine have the ability to drastically lower the spiritual temperature of the church. We are all one body and what affects you affects me and vice versa! Ill. Eccl. 9:18, “…one sinner destroyeth much good.”
6. Sin hinders God’s work both in our lives and in His church – v. 12 – Matt. 13:58 – When we allow sin to rule in our hearts, God will not move among us in freedom and power.
7. Sin will be dealt with – v. 13 – Either you and I will deal with our sins, or God will deal with them. Either way, they will be handled! – 1 Cor. 11:31
C. It is not the water on the outside of the boat that causes the problem; it is the water on the inside of the boat that causes trouble! The same is true for the church. Often, the greatest problems faced by the church come from within and not from without. The world and the devil really cannot do a lot of damage to the church, but you let someone inside the church get out of line with God and there is a problem!
More often than not, when there are defeats, problems, and trouble down at the house of God, you can bet that there is someone in the church who is out of God’s will! When there is a lack of the manifest presence and power of God in the church, it can usually be traced to some sin in the body! There is an infection and it needs to be identified and treated before there will ever be a return of God’s power and glory!
Ill. If a business suffers too many losses, it closes its doors. If a company suffers too many losses, it lays off employees. When a church suffers too many losses, people go to Hell! We must have God’s power if we are going to see any spiritual successes! If we are going to have His power, we must be clean people!
We should never underestimate the amount of damage one sinner can cause:
• Abraham nearly lost his wife when he went to Egypt, Gen. 12.
• The boat Jonah was riding in nearly sunk when he ran away from God in disobedience, Jonah 1.
• Seventy thousand people died in Israel because David disobeyed God by numbering the people, 2 Sam. 24.
• One sinner nearly destroyed the church at Corinth, 1 Cor. 5.
You might think your sin is insignificant, but it can ruin your church and sap it of its power. It can devastate your family and leave total ruin in its wake. It can destroy your life and leave you broken and defeated!
Ill. Eccl. 9:18. No Christian can sin without affecting other Christians or even lost sinners. You cannot grow cold without lowering the temperature of those around you. The testimony of the church is reflected in the lives of every believer in the church.
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