INTRODUCTION
A. The Book of Joshua is a Book of Victory
1. It reminds us that Faith is the Victory that
overcomes the world
2. Joshua leads God’s People to victory over
the enemies in the land
B. Jesus Christ is our Joshua (Yahweh is Salvation)
1. When we follow Him, we are more than
conquerors - Rom.8:37
2. "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through our Lord J.Christ" I Cor.15:57
C. A concise outline of this magnificent book
1. Crossing the River Jordan Chs.1-5
2. Conquering the Enemy in the Land 6-12
3. Claiming the Promised Inheritance 13-24
D. Look at the events of Josh.7
1. They follow a tremendous victory at Jericho.
2. God’s people trust and obey Him and the walls
came tumbling down
3. BUT there is danger ahead at a little town
called Ai.
4. Because of the sin of one man called Achan.
I. SURPRISING DEFEAT 1-5
A. After the victory at Jericho, God’s people had become overconfident
1. They thought they took take Ai without even
consulting Him
2. They were in for a big surprise!
3. They send up only a few thousand soldiers,
thinking that victory was a foregone
conclusion.They couldn’t have been more wrong.
Ai was certainly no pushover.
B. The same thing can happen to us today in the Church
1. We can become so self confident in ourselves
and our ability
2. We can reach the point when we no longer need
God, except for the big challenges.
3. Most times we can manage by ourselves.
4. That’s what happened here. Not once did
Joshua ask for God’s help!
II. SERIOUS DISCOURAGEMENT vv.6-9
A. Their hearts melted as they were defeated by the small army of Ai
1. The People are discouraged and Joshua asks "Why"
2. He cannot understand why this has happened.
What went wrong?
B. How vulnerable we are when we get outside the will of God
1. Only in the will of God is there protection
and blessing.
2. Outside His will we will suffer defeat and
discouragement.
III. SHAMEFUL DISCOVERY 10-18
A. Joshua wants to find out the Cause for this Disaster
1. Does the right thing by going straight to God
for his answer.
2. The right response to wrong is to go to God.
3. Immediately he is told to "Get up! Israel has
sinned"
4. There is a time for prayer, and there is also a
time for repentance.
5. Joshua is commanded to stop praying and start
making things right.
B. Sin had invaded the camp
1. God had earlier made it clear that the spoils
of Jericho were to be devoted to Him - 6:18-19
but Achan had disobeyed this law.
2. Now one person’s disobedience was bringing
calamity upon a whole nation. This is how sin
works! We never sin alone.
C. Achan thought he could hide his sin, but God saw what he did!
1. Nothing misses the eyes of an all seeing God -
Heb.4:13
2. And He will not bless us until we stop
covering & start confessing
3. Prov.28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall
not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
4. Be sure your sins will find you out - Achan’s
sin was discovered & exposed.
IV. SWIFT DESTRUCTION 19-26
A. God always gives us more than enough time to repent.
1. In order to find the culprit, the tribes
present themselves, then the clans.
2. This was followed by the families, and finally
individuals.
3. God was giving Achan opportunities to repent
before he was personally confronted. He did
not avail himself of any of these.
4. Only when there was no way out, he confessed -
I HAVE SINNED.
B. He and his family were taken to the Valley of Achor (trouble)
1. They had shared in the sin by saying nothing.
2. Swift destruction falls upon this whole family
because of the greed of one man who wanted a
coat and a wedge of gold.
CONCLUSION
1. One day "swift destruction" will come upon those who know not Christ. II Thess.1:7-9
2. Today is the day of grace and opportunity. Now is the time to confess and repent of all known sin I John 1:9
3. Now is the time to do the right thing while we can. Believe, repent, confess and be immersed into Christ! (Acts 2:38), or come Back to Christ in repentance and restoration. Then the Valley of trouble will become a valley of Hope for you- Hos.2:15
