As followers of Christ do we need some kind of explanation for miracles like this? (Old NASA Rumor) Slowing of Earth’s rotation? Earth wobbling on it’s axis? Some form of bending light? Did we require a explanation for God parting the Jordan river… or for that matter the Red Sea? Perhaps nothing physically changed yet God made everyone in the area He divided out see the sun and moon stand still…

We’re not going to learn how this miracle happened…we will learn some other things. We will learn about sacrificial integrity, displayed by Joshua. We will learn how doing the right thing puts you into partnership with God. What that looks like is believing what God tells you SO MUCH that you ask Him to do something only HE can do. This moment of partnership between God and Joshua is unparalleled / unprecedented.

As His people we are all called to that kind of partnership, not on this scale, but in ways that can have eternal impact. Our integrity and obedience opens our eyes to what God is doing all around HIM! Then it is partnership time, true partnership with God! To HIS glory!

Joshua 10:1-15

Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies. 2 He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters.

• Word travels fast in the land of Canaan
• The alliance that was formed just weeks ago is called into action
• Notice that the guy who leads this fight is The King of Jerusalem
• Jerusalem is closest to Gibeon (driven by fear)

3 So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. 4 “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.” 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

• This King calls himself: ‘Lord of Righteousness’
• The word ‘Gibeonite’ means ‘Good Fighter’ V2 (Provide a local advantage)
• Better to eliminate them before they can help the Israelites
• They basically laid siege to the city, surrounded it
• It is to the Israelites advantage to get them all out in the open country
• This is God working… He is always at work

6 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.” 7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

• Joshua could have said: ‘This will take care of my Gibeonite problem’
• His honoring his oath, his integrity, was not dependent on what the others did
• Honoring His oath was not determined based on what the outcome would be
• He got the army ready to go and his integrity is rewarded with partnership
• God tells Him what HE is going to do: HE will eliminate them ALL

9 After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.

• 15 miles from Gilgal to Gibeon, march at about 3 miles and hour (5 hour march)
• They show up at 3am and it is mass confusion
• The Amorites are routed and begin to retreat, they don’t retreat to Jerusalem
• They go west then south through the valley
• The route described covers about 20 miles!

11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

• All 5 Kings and their men retreat down a thoroughfare
• As they run away the Amorites are pelted with big hail (softball size?)

12 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

• Time sequence: Joshua likely said this as the pursuit began
• The Amorites worshiped the Sun and the Moon as Gods
• Joshua (& Yahweh) wanted to display HIS power over their deities
• ‘The Ultimate Demoralizer’

13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.

• Gibeon is sworn ally so in essence the 5 Kings attacked Israel (avenged)
• Book of Jashar (Book of The Just Ones) Citing another source that recorded it
• If God wanted us to have this book He would have preserved it
• Net effect: another day (12 hours) of light by which to mop up the Amorites
• The Israelites were partners, not just servants. God fought for AND with them

14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! 15 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

• This is how Joshua was allowed by God to perceive the event
• Human perspective, divinely guided to communicate exactly what God wants

The Book Experiencing God: How I started living 22 years ago

Love relationship > Obedience > God Speaks > Join Him (adjustment in your life)

“Miracles rest on testimony, not on scientific analyses. While it is interesting to speculate on how God might have performed any particular Biblical miracle, including Joshua’s long day, ultimately those claiming to be disciples of Jesus Christ (who authenticated the divine record of the Bible) must accept them, by faith.” ~ Russell Grigg

SUMMARY:

Joshua is an example to us in how He honors his word displaying ‘Non-Situation Driven Integrity’: Doing the right thing no matter what!

God was at work getting the Amorite Kings to attack, Joshua’s obedience puts him in a place to work hand in hand with God, a place of joining God where He is working as His partner.

The miracles recorded here do not require an explanation for those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. The ‘Self Existent’ All-Sovereign Lord of The Universe can manipulate, create, replicate, impersonate or make anyone see, hear and think whatever HE wants…If HE is who Scripture says HE is.

There is a place of partnership with God that we can experience through our integrity and obedience where we are so in-sync with God that HIS will becomes ours: ‘Flow’.

Joshua asked God to do exactly what God want to do: ‘He listened to a human’.

APPLICATION:

Do you believe in ‘Situational Ethics’? If so how does that ‘World View’ correspond to the message of Scripture in general and today’s passage in particular?

Where might God be working around YOU? Is there something you need to change in your life in order to join HIM in that work?

How comfortable are you with the idea that miracles are left unexplained? Are you waiting on an explanation before you really believe?

VISION & PRACTICE: General

‘Practical Principles’ are found in the proper reading of Scripture. We use those to develop ‘Practical Patterns’ of lifestyle that consist of specific ‘Practical Practices’ we do, not just talk about.

VISION & PRACTICE: Today

As Christ’s Body, when we walk with God in obedience and integrity, it puts us in a position to join HIM in HIS work. This means practicing basic, daily things that Scripture clearly calls us to do and be; developing a lifestyle of doing the right thing no matter the situation.

This world is full of messages and information that are deceptive and the deception is evil and destructive. In order to not be deceived by this world you must have 2 things: God’s Spirit within you AND the practice of seeking Him for EVERYTHING! God’s Presence is the only source of true discernment. Only HE knows the whole story, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

As the nation of Israel began to conquer and inhabit the promised land, they had the presence of Yahweh in their midst, God chose to inhabit their community. Now that Christ has come the 1^st time…The Holy Spirit indwells believers, resulting in the presence of God inhabiting their community, OUR Community! God gives us His presence but He does not force His guidance on us, He wants us to ask for it. He is the ‘Ultimate Gentleman’.

One of the biggest problems in discerning what is really true is we have to overcome our pride, we think we know the deal…Far too often we believe we know what the truth is so we stop inquiring and processing information. The practice of remaining curious, humbly realizing that we don’t have all the information is a way we guard against pride that leads to deception.

The Nation of Israel had seen what happens when they seek God and are led by Him, and they had seen how thing go when they try it their way, in this text we see how a complacency and lack of seeking God goes.

Joshua 9

1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites) — 2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

• They heard about these things, the annihilation of Ai
• They convened a War Council, they made a pact (common enemy)

3 However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5 They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.

• Gibeon was closest to where the Israelites were
• They had the best information, and chose to try something other than fighting
• They crafted a deception…

6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.” 7 The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?” 8 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

• They presented themselves and asked for a peace treaty
• The Israelites were suspicious and questioning

9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.”

• Claiming to be their servants because they have heard about their God
• They are careful to not include anything that has happened in the last month

11 “Our elders and all those living in our country said to us, Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, ‘We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ 12 “This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

• A compelling tale that makes the Israelites think they are from a great distance
• They accept the info with further inquiry

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

• After hearing their story they looked at the evidence the Gibeonites offered
• They perhaps tasted and smelled their foodstuffs
• BUT THEY DIDN’T ASK GOD ABOUT IT!!!!
• Joshua made peace & oaths were sworn based on a story and moldy bread
• The evidence was real but it was without true context (the context was a lie)
• Without the proper context, information can be deceiving…

16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

• It only took three day to find out they had been duped
• Perhaps they had gone on a couple of scouting missions, talked to other locals

The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” 21 They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

• The people wanted to attack but the leaders feared God because of their oath
• Since they could not make war against them they enslaved them
• They were to cut & haul wood and carry water (constant, hard work)
• They were allowed to live but as slaves

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? 23 You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

• Why would you do this and be enslaved?
• Joshua pronounces a curse on them
• They will be servants of the temple / tent of meeting / altar of sacrifice

24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

• They recognized the reality of who God was & how He was leading His people
• They figured their best chance was to fool them not fight them

26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

• Joshua would not sacrifice His integrity to please the people
• He found a solution that let the Israelite honor their oath and further God’s plan
• God held the Israelites to their oath, (Saul broke it and was punished)

SUMMARY:

The inhabitants of Canaan / The Promised Land recognize the threat the Israelite represent and they reacted in two ways: some cities band together to fight and one smaller group create an elaborate deception to escape destruction.

The Gibeonites presented information and evidence to the Israelites that was not what it appeared to be. Facts out of context are in essence lies and deception. Deception is aided by pride because instead of questioning assumptions are made.

God’s people looked at what the world presented as the truth and did not consult the author of all truth to discern truth from lie. A lack of routine practice of seeking God resulted in them being deceived.

God’s people , led by Joshua, displayed integrity and feared God after being deceived by not going back on their oath and taking ownership of their foolishness.

The Gibeonites were saved from the just wrath of Yahweh because in their own way they honored Him and recognized his absolute sovereignty. Their destiny would be to serve the Israelite’s worship of God.

APPLICATION:

When faced with a hard situation do you look to fight or attempt deception to overcome obstacles?

How curious are you regarding the information you see about the world around you? What do you use as a guide to process that information?

How do you regularly inquire of God? What does your practice look like?

When you have made bad decisions who do you blame and why?

VISION & PRACTICE

God’s people should be aware of the deceptiveness of the information the world is giving them and guided by Scripture we are to practice regularly seeking God’s guidance rather than when we are unsure.

Todays passage is what is know as the second battle of Ai. The first battle wasn’t much a of a battle…This time the nation of Israel is victorious, first and foremost because they are once again rightly related to Yahweh, having dealt with the disobedience of Achen.

This battle is won by God inspired leadership, God given creativity in the planning and then God fearing obedience by all of the troops in Joshua’s Army. There is no great miracle; no stopping a river or turning city walls to rubble, just excellent military planning and execution.

We see how when God’s people are untied under Him as a forgiven community of leaders and servants there is no stopping them. God is forging HIS nation through adversity and experience so they can glorify HIM. There are also lessons for us, principals that can guide us as the Body of Christ.

Two weeks ago, the end of chapter seven:

24 Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. 25 Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” All the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. 26 They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the Lord was no longer angry.

• Beginning with Adam & Eve, sin must be paid for with a sacrifice
• When the sacrifice is as God has prescribed, the guilt is forgiven
• God is satisfied, the price was paid

Joshua 8:1-29

1 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.”

• Now that the price has been paid for the sin God says: ‘Forget about it!…I have’
• Yahweh declares He will still go before the Israelites and take the city of Ai
• Valuable items & animals can be taken (God sets the terms for devotion)
• God provides the genesis of a plan…back side ambush
• God gives Joshua the outline, and because he is connected, creativity as well

3 So Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out by night. 4 He commanded them, “Behold you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready.

• Sends out the ambush force (30,000) by night to their hiding place
• They are to be as close as they can without being seen and ready to go
• As it turns out there is a perfect place for them to hide…

5 I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them. 6 They will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city. For they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us, just as before.’ So we will flee before them. 7 Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will give it into your hand. 8 And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you.”

• Joshua’s army will do just what they did before…but this time not from fear
• They are counting on the enemy to be overconfident, to overplay his hand…
• Joshua is commanding with the authority of Yahweh

9 So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people. 10 Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. 11 All the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near before the city and encamped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai. (1)

• The ambush group of 30,000 got situated overnight going around behind Ai
• Joshua’s other force (30,000?) camps where they can be seen at sunrise

12 He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13 So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley. (1)

• He put 5000 men as northwestern ambush between Bethel & Ai (done at night)
• Between Bethel and Ai…This was land with some history (It’s all connected)
• Genesis 12:8 & 13:3-4 Twice Abram makes an altar to the Lord there

14 As soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city, hurried and went out early to the appointed place toward the Arabah to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. (1)

• At 1^st light King sees Joshua’s army across the ravine and goes to meet him
• He certainly leaves a force in the city as back up (City Guard)
• He wants to meet the Israelite army on the plain at the mouth of the valley
• He thought this was the whole Israelite army…

15 Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness. 16 So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. 17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel. (1&2)

• They fled a easterly direction back along the valley
• The army of Ai is seen chasing Joshua’s army from the walls of both cities
• The ‘City Guard’ of Ai & the fighting men of Bethel leave their cities to chase
• The 5000 men west of Bethel let everyone go to chase before they follow

18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city. 19 And the men in the ambush rose quickly out of their place, and as soon as he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it. And they hurried to set the city on fire. (2&3)

• Joshua gives the ‘Anointed Signal’ doing exactly what God says (no questions)
• Somehow the 30,000 men waiting behind Ai could see the signal and moved
• In short order they set Ai to burning, the city guard all left. No resistance

20 So when the men of Ai looked back, behold, the smoke of the city went up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that, for the people who fled to the wilderness turned back against the pursuers. 21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured the city, and that the smoke of the city went up, then they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. (3&4)

• Joshua’s men had stopped retreating
• All the fighting men from Ai & Bethel were between Ai and the Israelite Army
• Everyone sees the smoke coming from Ai
• One army knows it’s city and families are being consumed, they give up
• One army knows their God is running things, they become supremely confident

22 The other Israelites came out from the city against them, so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side. And Israel struck them down, until there was left none that survived or escaped. 23 But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him near to Joshua. (3&4)

• They had them trapped from all sides
• Destruction was total, except the King

24 When Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the open wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them to the very last had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it down with the edge of the sword. 25 All who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000, all the people of Ai.

• All of the fighters they killed in the open ground (7-8K at most)

26 But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.27 Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their plunder, according to the word of the Lord that he commanded Joshua.

• Joshua held out the Javelin for the battle AND the devotion of the city
• He made sure he did it as long as God wanted him to do it: Complete Devotion

28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day. 29 He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. At sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.

• City of Ai was rebuilt at a site nearby (Neh. 7:32) Sister city of Bethel
• The hanging on a tree was probably impaling
• Scripture gave a process

If a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. ~ Deuteronomy 21:22–23

SUMMARY:

God teaches His people that once sin is addressed and God has extended grace, the relationship is repaired: HIS forgiveness is perfect so HIS people can be encouraged and brave not overshadowed by their sin!

God uses HIS leaders to plan and execute HIS projects. They seek His guidance, command with HIS authority and succeed by HIS power…even when it is not done with miracles. We are called to do our best in His service!

God puts HIS leaders in a position to be seen and given attention. HIS ‘Christ-Type’ leaders are obedient and complete their assignments. In this story Joshua is an extension of God’s leadership of HIS people.

APPLICATION:

What is the Biblical basis by which your sin is forgiven, and once it is forgiven how does God view it? How do you view it?

As Christ’s Body, what can we do to promote Visionary Leadership and Faithful Servanthood as we see in this passage?

What roles of Leadership and/or servanthood do you see yourself growing into here @ Midtown Church?

VISION & PRACTICE:

As ‘Biblically Forgiven People’, our relationship with God through Jesus Christ enables us to live with courage and purpose doing everything ‘As unto The Lord’. (Col. 3:23)

Talking about sin is hard. But we need to because the Scripture does. If we claim to love Jesus Christ then we are told directly by HIM that we must obey HIS words, all of Scripture and all principals that agree with the scriptures.

Let us clearly define sin based on the Bible / Scripture. Sin is doing, thinking or believing the opposite of what God wants. Many things are spelled out explicitly, others things less clear but still important.

To avoid sin…

1^st we have to know what God would have us do, who He would have us be…And THEN we have to honestly, intentionally and transparently pursue such a life. Disobedience to God’s desires is sin. Ignoring God’s commands, precepts and principals is sin. Taking away a part of what God says, interpreting His Word out of context, is sin. Adding to what God prescribes for HIS people is sin.

God’s Word is meant to convey multiple meanings and have multiple uses. Everything from the big picture to personal application. The centuries long story of how God takes a group of people and HE walks with them to reveal himself and HIS desires for all people. Through these people, HIS people HE demonstrates how no human being can live in a way acceptable to HIS Perfect Triune Holiness. From that nation HE comes in person to make a way for our lives to be acceptable to HIM. By HIS perfect sacrifice for us we can embrace our dependency for a ‘Father’ we need.

There is also a massive amount of human relational information given to guide us in how we live. The characters are all there for a reason: to teach us how we are and are not to relate to our Creator. Every interaction can be mined for application to our lives as Christ followers. This information is only revealed by God’s Spirit in us and our yielding to to HIS tutelage.

As we join the story today, Jericho has been dedicated to the Lord, His desire was for everything thing to be destroyed except Rahab’s family and the metal objects.

Joshua 7

1 But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.

• It doesn’t say ‘Achan’ violated God’s instructions, it say ‘Israel’ violated
• The object of God’s righteous anger is the entire nation (His Body)
• God knows every little thing, it’s declared throughout Scripture…and life!

2 Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven. 3 When they returned, they told Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so few of them, don’t make all our people struggle to go up there.”

• Map shows the proximity, spies were sent the next day
• They are confident that it will only take a portion of their fighting men

4 So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries, 5 and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope.

• God is the One who decides who wins or loses every battle
• Soundly defeated, aka ‘routed’; it implies being turned back, retreating
• Outside the town they had quarries to hold water, the Israelites were trapped
• 36 soldiers did not return from the battle

The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away. 6 Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the Lord until evening.

• The loss of 36 soldiers totally unnerves the whole nation
• The removal of God’s favor is noticeable to the spiritually sensitive
• They know something is wrong

7 Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side!

• Communal mourning & humbling themselves before God
• Joshua is dramatic, but he is feeling the weigh of leadership
• He is talking to God without knowing the whole situation (Every Human Prayer)

8 Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? 9 For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?”

• Joshua can’t explain his army losing, he thought God was doing his bidding…
• He is jumping ahead to what he thinks is going to happen
• Joshua, like us, is only able to see from his perspective in the situation
• He is concerned about God’s reputation (learned that from Moses)

10 But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? 11 Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings.”

• Why does God tell Joshua and the Elders to get up?
• God charges the leadership with lack of supervision and ultimately being lax
• God addresses them as a singular thing: Israel
• God says: you did it, you lied about doing it and then you made it your own
• This is a pattern of how sin is multiplied instead of repented of
• Without repentance sin only multiplies

The word ‘repent’ has two aspects: one is to admit the wrong, and the second is a intentional move away from that particular behavior / attitude / words / lifestyle. ‘Come Clean and then Change’

12 “That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.”

• The spiritual impact is a lack of connection / separation from God
• The sin that is not repented of has multiplied and is defeating an entire nation
• In current state of un-repentance, the nation of Israel is under God’s judgement
• God will withdraw HIS presence unless the situation is rectified

13 “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.”

• Get to work…tell everyone to prepare spiritually
• HE instructs Joshua to tell all the people:
• God says there is someone who has hidden things meant to be devoted to God
• God says this sin will hold back the nation from their promised destiny
• It must be dealt with, as a community

14 “In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and the Lord will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That tribe must come forward with its clans, and the Lord will point out the guilty clan. That clan will then come forward, and the Lord will point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come forward one by one.”

• Everyone will be examined, all 12 tribes worth. Millions down to one person
• God will point out exactly who the guilty party is

15 “The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of the Lord and has done a horrible thing in Israel.”

• When the guilty party is identified all that is his will be devoted to the Lord
• The price is high because of what it cost (God’s disdain & 36 men)

16 Early the next morning Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Judah was singled out. 17 Then the clans of Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of Zerah came forward, and the family of Zimri was singled out. 18 Every member of Zimri’s family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out.

• At each point of the process Achan could have come forward
• He is given multiple chances but not an infinite number of chances…

19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don’t hide it from me.” 20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel.

• Only now when Achan has no other choice does he repent (Too Late)

One day every knee will bow to Jesus Christ! We, HIS followers, joyfully do it now!When Christ returns and MAKES every knee bow, it will be too late for that supplication to save anyone.

21 Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.”

• His confession: Beauty from Babylon, Heavy Gold & Spendable Silver
• He took three things that express pride (the root of all sin)
• He wanted to feel special / have security / gratify any urge

22 So Joshua sent some men to make a search. They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, just as Achan had said, with the silver buried beneath the rest. 23 They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. Then they laid them on the ground in the presence of the Lord.

• Twice it says the silver is buried beneath the other stuff, deeper in the ground
• Why is the silver buried deeper? $100,000

24 Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. 25 Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.”

• God gave specific instruction, Joshua made sure he followed them
• Notice: ALL the Israelites did it together, demonstrating the pattern God wants
• Together we establish & maintain ‘Biblical Culture’ regarding dealing with sin
• It is THE LORD who brings the trouble (Your sin will find you out)

And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. 26 They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the Lord was no longer angry.

• Judgement was enacted. The Justice of God
• Valley of Trouble
• The desires of pride always lead to trouble

SUMMARY

The explicit instruction of God regarding the devotion of the entire city of Jericho are disobeyed by only one man amongst the whole army of Israel. This act of disobedience is not seen by God as an individual act but instead HE charges the whole nation with the guilt of it.

In the corporate sharing of the cost of one man’s disobedience, thirty six men die without need: husbands, fathers, brothers, friends…because of a robe, a gold bar and 20 pieces of silver! When we live in God given community we share a communal responsibility to deal with the sin of our community.

The whole nation participates in the exposure, denouncement and punishment of the sin. The cost is great, and everyone has to deal with the up-close reality of God’s judgement. In the end there is grace extended by Yahweh to the people, but it is costly grace! God’s people are to live based on these principals.

Questions:

What would have happened if Achen had admitted his sin prior to the failed attack on Ai?

What if Ananias and Sapphira would have admitted their sin when Peter asked them?

APPLICATION:

Why does God make the whole nation pay for the sin of one man?

How might you live differently if you were to acknowledge the effects of your sin on others you share life with?

How well do you repent? (based on the scriptural definition: confession & change) What does that look like?

Why do the Israelite lose their courage a few days after watching God act so miraculously on their behalf, in the destruction of Jericho?

What are some regular practices we can embrace as a community in order to promote transparency regarding sin here at Midtown?

VISION & PRACTICE:

In the Body of Christ we acknowledge our interdependence and communal responsibility to deal with sin as a group, culture that reflects scriptural principals. We intentionally work to establish relationships among The Body that are strong enough to carry the weight of transparency and confession of sin, entrusting our forgiveness and peace to our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have been encouraged by people telling me about how they are enjoying studying the book of Joshua. They are connecting with a part of the O.T. that often gets overlooked. They are connecting with the big story of God’s people. One of the great things that happens when we study the O.T. is we gain perspective on how God’s people find meaning and purpose in this life. Meaning and Purpose for God’s People comes from connection to God. THE GOSPEL IS ALL ABOUT CONNECTION.

We need to connect to God, and HE shows us how in HIS Word, in HIS story is were we find the meaning and pupose of OUR story.

God’s people, after spending 40 years in the wilderness have now entered the Promised Land…and before they begin the conquest God strengthens their connection to him to prepare for what is to come. Led by Joshua (a human ‘Type’ of Christ) the people of God do five things that connect them to purpose and meaning that flow from God.

Connection with the real state of opposition to God’s people.

Connection with the Identity God has given HIS people.

Connection with the freedom God has given HIS people.

Connection with God’s provision yesterday, today and in the future.

Connection with ‘The Person’ of God; aka Jesus Christ

These are foundational aspects of how God’s people live connected to HIM. These principles enable Christ’s people to live a life of discipleship. Today’s text shows us that God desires HIS people to connect to HIS purposes and that is were HIS people find meaning in this world.

The process of inhabiting the promised land begins with the building and strengthening of a connection with HIS people.

Joshua 5 – 6:7

5:1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

• The stories at first would be dismissed, but now there is too much confirmation
• They felt safe with the Jordan river between them and the Israelites
• Two factors: Physical barrier gone & that barrier was supernaturally overcome
• If the Israelites crossed the normal way, the Kings would have attacked
• After seeing what God did they no longer had the will to fight (lost fighting spirit)
• They are a defeated enemy!
• Our connection to God is enhanced by knowing the situation of the enemy
• Our enemy is already defeated; death has been defeated for those ‘In Christ’

2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.

• They had metal tool, why use flint blades?
• Easy to make multiple very sharp, smooth blades, makes for faster healing
• Stone less likely to transmit bacteria as metal… better for this situation
• Gibeath Haaraloth means: ‘The Hill of Foreskins’
• Circumcision was a mark to identify God’s chosen people
• Symbolic and Physical proof of their identity as a ‘Son of Abraham’

4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.

• Why didn’t they follow the law and circumcise all male children on the 8^th day?
• While in the wilderness they were ‘disconnected’ from their identity as God’s people

6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.

• The previous generation had been circumcised but broke the covenant
• Because their fathers had broken the covenant the children did not get the sign
• Rejection of that generation was shared by their children until they were gone
• They were going to reconnect with their identity as God’s People

7 So He raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. 9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

• This generation replaces their fathers and now receive the covenant sign
• To keep from bleeding it was necessary to be still for 3 days
• Reproach is disgrace, the opposite of unmerited favor (Grace)
• The previous generation was tainted by being enslaved in Egypt
• Physical circumcision was a foreshadowing of our spiritual circumcision
• Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew word for roll
• He rolled away the reproach, He rolled away the stone
• ‘Therefore there is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ!’
• God reconnected them through the recognition of their true identity

In Christ, you were circumcised, not by any physical act, but by being set free from the sins of the flesh by virtue of Christ’s circumcision. You, so to speak, shared in that, just as in baptism you shared in his death, and in him are sharing the miracle of rising again to new life—and all this because you have faith in the tremendous power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You, who were spiritually dead because of your sins and your uncircumcision, God has now made to share in the very life of Christ! He has forgiven you all your sins. ~ Colossians 2:11-13 (PHILLIPS)

10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

• Finished crossing the Jordan the 10^th day, circumcision happens on 11^th day
• After 3 days they celebrate the passover on Nissan the 14th
• Then it is the festival of unleavened bread for 7 days Nissan the 15^th – 21^st
• Except the 1^st one, previous festivals featured only mana (God made it kosher)
• The provision of God is now coming from ‘The Land’, so mana was not needed
• They connected to the reality of God’s provision
• Connecting with how God provides strengthens the faith of God’s people

13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

• The assumption is that the festival is now over, Joshua goes for a scouting trip
• Looking at the most fortified city in all the land he must have been dismayed
• The man is in a battle ready stance
• He asks if he is for Israel or it’s foes…he thinks this is a battle of humans
• The ‘Man’ tells him it’s not about you or them, it is HIS battle, not theirs
• He proclaims: I am the Prince of the Lord’s Host…Who would that be?
• I have come now as Army Commander, will HE come later as something else?

Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my lord have for his servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

• Is this an angel? If so he would tell Joshua not to worship him…
• Joshua is told to remove his shoes, it’s holy ground…as in ‘burning bush’
• At this point Joshua realizes he is face to face with ‘The God Man’
• This is the incarnadined Christ / Yahweh in the form of a man; a ‘Christophany’
• Joshua on behalf of the nation, is personally connecting with the Person of Christ / Yahweh

6:1 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.”

• The city was impregnable to the Israelites, they had no siege works
• Only God himself would say: ‘I have delivered’ (He is outside of linear time)
• He has already done it all, knows exactly how it will go down (He predestined it)
• The all powerful Creator of The Universe condescends to connect with Joshua

3 “March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

• The plan will give Joshua all the confidence he needs, God does all the work
• Yahweh is going to surround the city with His presence
• Then He is going to defy natural reality, making the city wall collapse
• It is going to be a situation that invites ridicule…(veggie tales ‘French Peas’)
• This would sound crazy, unless God said it to you!
• Unless you had seen God part the red sea, seen God part the Jordan…
• Unless you have a personal connection to HIM by HIS spirit
• Joshua’s connection was unique at the time
• Post resurrection and Spirit indwelling, we all can have a personal connection

6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” 7 And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”

• Joshua doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t run it by anyone, He enacts the plan NOW
• When we are connected to God in every way He wants us to be we are ONE!

SUMMARY:

God’s people find meaning and purpose in their lives by being connected to God in the ways HE prescribes for us.

In terms of eternity, we have a defeated enemy. The only thing he can do is mess with our minds. We can connect with the reality of that and live without fear.

Our identity as God’s chosen is a key element of being a Christian, we can connect to that identity and let it shape our lives. The nation of Israel’s physical circumcision is a parallel to our spiritual circumcision.

It is vital for God’s people to be connected to their heritage of God’s grace. Scripture is God gift to us that we would live in light of HIS Story.

The celebration of and thanksgiving for the provision God has provided and will provide, is a humbling connection that enables grace to flow through us.

The cultivation and maintenance of our personal connection with Christ will power us through the mundane and the miraculous.

CONNECTION FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

The Connection of knowing the condition of our enemy

The Connection of renewing our identity

The Connection of remembering our past

The Connection of acknowledging God’s provision

The Connection of personal a relationship with God

APPLICATION:

How can you grow in the level of connectivity you have concerning your eternal fate?

What is the source of your identity as one of God’s people and how well are you connected to that source?

What is your plan to become more connected with the history & heritage of God’s people?

How does your connection to how God provides for you impact the financial and career decisions you make?

How can you improve your day to day personal connection to Christ?

VISION & PRACTICE

As God’s chosen people let us recognize Scripture’s guidance as to how we are to intentionally connect with Christ. And may our lifestyle choices reflect the cultivation of that connectivity.