EXPLORE THE TEXT
We should recognize that sin always dishonors God and negatively impacts our relationship with Him.
10 The Lord then said to Joshua,
"Stand up! Why have you fallen facedown?
11 Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant that I appointed for them.
They have taken some of what was set apart.
They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings.
12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies.
They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they have been set apart for destruction.
I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you what is set apart.
13 Go and consecrate the people. Tell them to consecrate themselves
for tomorrow, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:
There are things that are set apart among you, Israel.
You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove what is set apart.
14 In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe.
The tribe the Lord selects is to come forward clan by clan.
The clan the Lord selects is to come forward family by family.
The family the Lord selects is to come forward man by man.
15 The one who is caught with the things set apart must be burned, along with everything he has,
because he has violated the Lord's covenant and committed an outrage in Israel."
Our actions impact others, both positively and negatively.
List some personal examples of this.
Review the description of Achan.
Summarize Joshua 7:1-9 to highlight Achan's sin.
God's response to Joshua in these verses:
The Lord got right to the point-Israel has sinned.
They had stolen from the Lord and then deceitfully hid what they had stolen. .The Lord revealed that it was because of this sin that
the people of God could not defeat their enemies.
He had warned them that there would be dire consequences if they disobeyed Him
concerning the things that were to be devoted to Him.
If they were going to act like enemies to God by disregarding Him,
then they would experience a taste of what that meant. (PSG, p. 49)
Discuss responses.
God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. (See Isaiah 6:1-5; 1 Peter 1:14-16.)
Affirm that our holy God takes sin seriously.
Note that He would reveal just how seriously in the next verses.