Joshua 7:1-5

Joshua 7: 1-51 “But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted

things; Achan son of Karmi, 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.

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.

3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.”

4 So about three thousand 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 in fear and became like water.

Discouragement is

• Universal• Recurring• Contagious• Isn’t the end

Incredible victory at Jericho

BUTthe Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things. Achan son of Karmi, 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.

Never underestimate the amount of damage one person can do outside God's will.

Joshua 6:19 “But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the

treasury of the LORD.”

Joshua 7:3-4 ……. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai,

12 [The LORD said] 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.

7 And Joshua said, “Alas, 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!

10 So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on

your face?

Exodus 14:15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out

your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on

dry ground.

• Joshua 7:11 “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.”

• 1 Cor 12:26 "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it, if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it“

• Ecclesiastes 9:18 "One sinner destroys much good."

21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my

tent, with the silver underneath.”

Gen 3: 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.

• Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbour's.”

• Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

• Heb 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money & be content with what you have, because God has said. "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

24 And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 …… And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.

Sin always brings disgrace & ruin to the family

So let’s pay heed…• Prov 3:11 My son, do not despise the Lord's

discipline, or be weary of His reproof,• Hebrews 12:5-6 And have you completely

forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a Father addresses His son? It says,

• “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you,6 because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.”[

• Revelation 3:19 “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”