Defeat and Deception

Joshua Chapters 6-9

- Jericho was defeated not by might or power, but GOD gave it into the hands of his people.

- They were warned that everything in Jericho was devoted to the LORD for destruction.

- Rahab and everyone with her, who were in her house, were saved. She is often referred to by another name, but I just think of her as one wise woman, worthy of my respect.

- Notice what GOD warns them about in verse 18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them, you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. (Warning given, warning ignored)

- They were to take all the valuables and put them into the treasury of the LORD.

- Next chapter we see that Achan son of Carmi, from the tribe of Judah took some of the devoted things and hid them in his tent. GOD was angry, hmm I wonder why?

-     On the heels of the Jericho victory, Joshua sends men to a city called Ai. They spy it out and return with a good report that the city is small, and they will be able to defeat them with only three thousand men and they did not have to send their full force.

- The attack turned out to be a disaster because GOD was not with them.

- Observations from what happened with Ai, nowhere do we read that Joshua or the High Priest, Elders ever ask to consult with GOD about next steps. They just run on the assumption that it should be a ‘walk in the park’.

- I often do this in my own walk with GOD, the big things I immediately recognize that I cannot do them on my own, but the little things I wrongly conclude that I can handle it without GOD’s help. This usually goes as well as Ai did for Israel, conversely if you do accomplish the task you begin to question if you need GOD’s help at all. (which is dangerous thinking)

- Joshua goes to the Ark of the LORD along with the elders and bemoans their loss. GOD says to Joshua, Why are you lying on your face? get up off the ground and I will tell you the problem.

- Achan’s act polluted the sacred space of the camp of Israel and until things were rectified, Israel would no longer be able to stand before their enemies, no matter how small they were. Also, GOD would no longer be with them.

- Notice GOD did not tell Joshua or anyone who took the devoted things. Do you think he knows?

- He tells them tomorrow they will all assemble, GOD will first pick the tribe by lot, (probably using the Urim and Thummim)

Then the Clans would come forward and he would choose a Clan, next by households to finally get down to a person. 

Achan had the time it took to hear about Israel’s defeat at Ai to when Joshua and the Elders approached the LORD for answers.

Achan had a whole night to do something instead of sleeping. Then the next day and the painstaking filtering down from Tribe, to Clan, to household and not once did he or any member of his family come forward and request mercy. Would he have received any? Would his family have been spared? I guess we will never know. One thing we do know is GOD knew it was Achan and mercifully gave him every opportunity to confess. Achan and his family unfortunately paid the price for his sin. 

GOD is patient he waits, he waits for us to realize there is no way out of this death sentence, but if we come to him believing that Jesus paid our debt, took our sin on himself on the cross, then unlike Achan we will know the mercy and forgiveness of GOD. Achan’s sin rocked his world, don’t let it rock yours or your family.

Next Continued - Deception