Joshua 7 Aachen's Sin

 

·         God was angry with all Israel, not just Aachen.

·         Joshua sent spies to spy out AI. Quote: he did not inquire of God.

·         The spies told Joshua it would be an easy route. You only need to send a couple of thousand men. The army was routed, and 36 died.

·         How many times do we think we can handle something without God's help and end up failing?

·         Should we ever tell God, “ we've got this”?

·         After the failed battle, Joshua went to talk to God.

o   Joshua was on his face before God all day. The elders joined him.

o   Joshua complained to God.

o   Note: God let them be on their faces all day and did not respond until after Joshua had his say, which blamed God.

o   God's response was to say, “Get up, this is Israel's fault, not mine”. They disobeyed, and I am out of here unless you get this straightened out. Now, consecrate the people and in the morning have the people present themselves by tribe, then clan, then family, then man. The guilty one and his stuff will be destroyed by fire.

o   Aachen was the man chosen.

§  He took a robe, 200 shekels of silver, and 50 shekels worth of gold.

§  I wonder if Aachen thought he would be OK if he admitted to what he had done.

§  What Aachen did affected his sons, daughters, the stuff he stole, his cattle, donkeys, sheep, tent, and everything else he had.

§  He and everything he owned were stone and burnt up.

o   Why do you think it was not just Aachen that experienced the punishment?

§  Was the punishment just?

§  Why do you think the punishment was so extreme?

§  Why did Aachen steal the stuff even though he knew God said not to?

§  Why was it important for the Israelites to follow God's orders?

§  What do you think would have been the result if they had not punished Aachen the way God wanted them to?

§  What do you think Aachen was thinking as it was narrowed down to him?

§  Aachen could have turned himself in anytime before they got to him, but didn't. Why do you think he waited?

§  What kinds of things can happen in our lives when we try to hide our sins?

§  How do you think a King's wife and children felt?

§  How or who do you think our sin might affect?

§  Was it fair for God to punish all Israel for the sin of 1?

§  How might we apply this concept to the Church of today?

·         A new recruit told his DI that the reason he joined the Marine Corps was to find his purpose to which the DI responded, The Marine Corps has the purpose; you have an assignment.