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.

What is the place in the cannon of Scripture for the Book of Joshua? What place do we give it in out lives? We read it as the story of God building a people to birth His Messiah out of. But also it can be guidance for how we are to live as His people, drawing on principals and ways we can relate to our Lord. Today’s passage shows us a a continuing pattern of God leading His people. He makes it clear what He is going to do and then He does it. As part of that He calls His people to purity and obedience as they follow where He leads.

Before when God took His people OUT of Egypt He took them through water. When He brings His people INTO The Promised Land, it is through water also. He does what we can’t… which is the basis for our relationship with Him.

We cannot remove the guilt of our rebellion against our creator, yet we all long for that barrier to be removed between us and God. Christ removed that barrier by doing what only God could do: paying the price for our sin and then rising to show HE is the master of life and death and so He can give us eternal life. So we follow by faith, in obedience and without fear: because we have given Jesus Christ our lives!

Today we see an example of God doing what only He can do and He people doing what they have been called to do

Joshua Chapter 3

1 Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing.

• God placed the people so that everyone could see the obstacle
• What did they know of water? Could any of them swim?

2 Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, 3 giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them.

• They do another three days (time of preparation)
• For the last 40 years they have moved when the Ark moved

4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”

• Only Joshua & Caleb had been this way… walking thru bodies of water
• Why were they told to keep such a distance?

5 Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”

• ‘Consecrate’ or ‘Set Apart’ (obedience to what God has made very clear: Law)
• Purify yourselves had some very specific practices involved for them
• We don’t do it by prescription of ‘The Law’ (Ritual that played a role)
• We ‘set ourselves apart’ by being obedient to Christ, empowered by HIS Spirit

6 In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out and went ahead of the people.

• The Ark was going to take them through the water…sound familiar?
• Ark means ‘vessel of safe keeping’
• Noah’s Ark kept people and creatures safe, now it is God’s written Words
• The Ark of The Covenant was the carrier of the manifestation of God on earth
• Mercy Seat / Mana / Bidding Staff / The Five Books of Moses: Pentateuch

7 The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. 8 Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’”

• God uses leaders; geographically local and relationally available leaders
• Joshua is a unique leader, but he represents a pattern of how God works
• God is just beginning to make Joshua a great leader (in the eyes of people)
• God’s leadership training program is ‘Learn to Lead by Following HIM’
• God is recreating a miracle HE 1^st did through Moses (repetition of HIS ways)

9 So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. 10 Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you.11 Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River!”

• Joshua takes the focus off of himself, God’s Word is what we listen to
• On this day, more so than yesterday, you will experience God personally
• That experience is going to make you confident about where you are headed
• The opposition will be dealt with by The Living God Himself!
• His personal presence embodied in HIS Written Word is going to take you thru
• We can apply these principals to our lives (it begins and ends with God’s Word)

12 “Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.”

• Choose for what? Each tribe is going to volunteer a guy but the job is unknown
• Are you willing to volunteer without knowing the assignment or being credited?

13 “The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.” 14 So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them.

• The Lord of all the earth…
• HIS power will flow through their feet, instead of making the Ark touch the water
• God has always wanted to involve people in the display of HIS Glory
• They are told to do it and they just do it

15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry.

• They had been looking at the swollen river for three days, but God said…
• It happens: God gave the vision, the people did what God told them to do: BAM
• The supernatural aspect of this must have been overwhelming

Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.

• It was in sight of people on the walls of the city
• Close to two million people, plus animals…how long would that take?

17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

• All the while the priest stand there with the Ark
• What were their names? Did they have any idea what they had signed up for?

Title: When Led By God…We have nothing to fear

SUMMARY:

God’s uses HIS servants to lead HIS people by HIS Presence & HIS Word to places they have not been, in ways they have not traveled. This is part of what makes us HIS Community.

As HIS people, our obedience is crucial, how we set ourselves apart to God as we follow HIM has always mattered. If we want to see HIS wonders, we have to do things HIS way!

The Jordan river is symbolic of frightening challenges we must trust God to lead us through as we follow HIM. The same God who made a way then can make a way now!

Those who serve God’s Word & God’s Community must be willing to do whatever, whenever and not get much attention.

APPLICATION:

What are some specific things you could change that would help to purify yourself / set yourself apart to God?

What is an example of something you have not tried to do because you don’t think you can do it?

What is an example of something you have done that you didn’t think you could do until you trusted God for it?

What is your contribution to the Midtown culture of humble, faithful service?

How might you better prepare for your role as a member of God’s people based on Scripture and Church History?

VISION & PRACTICE

Vision: Our world is not a ‘brave new world’… it is a world dominated by fear!

As God’s people / Jesus’ Body we can live without fear when we let God lead us!

Practice: Our lives can be set apart to God, not taken up with self fulfillment and consumerism. Our day to day can be full of God’s presence by obeying scripture.