Sunday School Lessons

JULY 3, 2016

 

TAKING AI

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  The first attempt to take Ai had ended in disaster. The reason for this awful tragedy was soon made known. There was sin in the camp, not just any sin, but one among them had taken of the accursed thing, thus bringing a curse upon the whole camp.

2.  The process by which the guilty party should be discovered was revealed to Joshua, and carried out successfully the very next day.

3.  Once Achan was found out, the next step was to destroy the troubler by stoning him and his house to death. With our physical bodies, sometimes life can be preserved only by surgically removing a diseased member. The fact that life is preferable to death makes the sacrifice of one member of the body reasonable. Such is also the case with respect to the spiritual body, the church. (Ch. 7:15; Matt. 5:29, 30; I Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9)

4.  The “operation” was difficult and painful, but happily it was successful in that God’s favor was restored to Israel. “So the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger.” (Ch. 7:26) The prophet Hosea would reference this centuries later, when he spoke of Israel’s return from captivity, “and I will give her…the valley of Achor for a door of hope.” We come to our valleys of trouble because of our sins, but if it results in sin being put away, the valley of trouble becomes our door of hope.

5.  With the painful ordeal now finally over, there was hope for a much brighter future.

 

I.  WELCOME WORDS OF REASSURANCE RECEIVED. (VERSES 1, 2)

A.  WORDS OF COMFORT. “FEAR NOT, NEITHER BE THOU DISMAYED.” (VERSE 1a)

1.  Genuine repentance restores that comforting assurance which sin steals from us. This was restoration to the original confidence that Joshua had before. (Compare Joshua 1:9)

2.  The basis for the renewed assurance was just the same as before. “The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

3.  The penitent may feel undeserving of this complete restoration (Luke 15:18, 19, 21), but “Whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13)

a)  Satan would always prefer to keep the humbled saint “swallowed up with over-much sorrow.” (II Cor. 2:7)

b)  Sorrow is good, but not if it keeps us from receiving comfort. (I John 1:9; Psa. 51:12)

B.  WORDS OF INSTRUCTION. “TAKE ALL THE PEOPLE OF WAR WITH THEE, AND ARISE AND GO UP  TO AI.” (VERSE 1b)

1.  Joshua must now leave the place of prayer and go to the field of battle.

a)  Prayer must precede all endeavors.

b)  Though we must not leave the spirit of prayer (I Thess. 5:17), there comes a time when we must leave the prayer closet and go forth.

c)  Notice, having restored His servant, the Lord sends him right back to the place of former defeat. Our failures are never without remedy if we return to the battle in the strength of the Lord. (Micah 7:8)

2.  This time, Joshua does not go presumptuously, or in the wisdom of the flesh, but with divine direction.

a)  He will not take 3,000 men, but rather all of the fighting men.

b)  He will not foolishly try and storm the enemy, but shall follow a carefully planned strategy, giving himself every possible advantage afforded him in heaven and earth. God gives us means and common sense, and blesses the use of them to good ends.

3.  As with Jericho, this time Joshua shall return to Ai with the promise of victory. “See I have given into thy hand the King of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.” (Verse 1c)

a)  God alone can call those things that are not as though they are. (Rom. 4:17)

(1)  He told the aged patriarch with a barren wife, “A father of many nations have I made thee.” (Gen. 17:5)

(2)  While Joshua was gazing at the walls of a city that was straightly shut up in defiance of him, the Lord said, “See I have given Jericho into thine hand.”

(3)  See also Exo. 14:13; Rom. 8:29, 30)

b)  Therefore Joshua, like Paul, would so run not as uncertainly. (I Cor. 9:26) He would “Trust and not be afraid.” (Isa. 12:2)

C.  A WORD OF PROMISE. (VERSE 2)

1.  Though not by the same method, Ai would as surely fall to them as had Jericho.

2.  Israel’s army would do a thorough work, just as they did at Jericho.

3.  On this occasion there would be no prohibitions regarding the spoil.

II.  A CLEVERLY DESIGNED STRATEGY LAID OUT. (VERSES 2b-8)

A.  AN AMBUSH WAS TO BE PLANNED AND EXECUTED. (VERSE 2b)

1.  Some believe that though the Lord told Joshua to prepare an ambush against Ai, the details of the strategy were left to Joshua. In other words, the specifics may not have been dictated from heaven. However, the record seems to suggest otherwise.

a)  As Joshua related the details (Verses 3-8), he was apparently communicating that which he had received from the Lord.

b)  As he did regarding Jericho, the writer first presents a condensed version, the details of which come out as Joshua revealed it to the people. (Compare Ch. 6:2-5; 6:16)

c)  In this case, none of the details were given initially. (Verse 2b)

2.  Conducting this plan would require all of the people. (Verse 1)

a)  All posts did not require the same level of sill or involve the same degree of danger or responsibility, but all jobs were important. (Some were to be liers-in-wait; others were to provide a decoy; the most valiant were to take the front lines.)

b)  In Christian warfare all believers are to be  enlisted, though areas of service and levels of responsibility must of necessity differ.

B.  THIS VICTORY, UNLIKE JERICHO, WOULD BE GAINED BY THE USE OF MORE CONVENTIONAL METHODS. (VERSES 3, 4)

1.  Joshua and the people had witnessed how Jericho was delivered to them by a mighty miracle, but this victory will be given them through ordinary methods of war.

a)  Either way, it was the Lord gave the victory, and no less or more in one than the other.

b)  At Jericho we learned that God alone can tear down Satan’s strongholds, but at Ai we see how we are to work and plan and execute as though all were up to us. This is always a blessed combination to maintain.

c)  All things are owing to God’s grace and providence, whether they come to us by great effort or no effort at all. (The manna in the wilderness was no more the gift of God than the corn in Canaan. Ch. 5:11, 12;James 1:17)

2.  Joshua sent 30,000 troops ahead that night (Verse 3), 5,000 of which would eventually be used for the ambush. (Verse 12) perhaps Joshua had all 30,000 men to pitch on the west side of Ai until he came with the elders and the rest of the men the next morning. He may then have taken all but 5,000 around to the north side where he would set the plan in motion.

C.  THE PLAN WAS DESIGNED TO TAKE THE ENEMY IN HIS OWN CONCEIT. (VERSES 5-8)

1.  Man believes in himself. He says, “I have done it before, and I shall do it again,” but he fails to consider the one determining factor, if God wills.

2.  Joshua’s troops would make it appear that the strategy was the same as before, thus alluring Ai’s army out into the valley while the liers-in-wait would take the city. (Verses 7, 8)

III.  THE SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF A WELL-DESIGNED PLAN. (VERSES 9-23)

A.  ALL WERE IN THEIR PLACES. (VERSES 9-12)

B.  JOSHUA AND HIS TROOPS PUT THEMSELVES IN THE PATH OF GREAT DANGER IN ORDER TO DRAW AI’S MEN OUT AFTER THEM. (VERSES 13, 14)

C.  ACCORDING TO PLAN, THEY FLED AS BEFORE. THE RESULT BEING EXACTLY WHAT WAS INTENDED. (VERSES 15-17)

D.  JOSHUA GAVE THE SIGNAL TO THE AMBUSH AND THE REST WAS HISTORY. (VERSES 8-22)

E.  NONE WERE ALLOWED TO LIVE OR ESCAPE. (VERSE 22b)

F.  THOUGH THE KING WAS NOT SLAIN, HE WAS CAPTURED, AND BROUGHT TO JOSHUA.  (VERSE 23)

 

JUNE 26, 2016

 

THE REMOVING OF THE CURSE

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  Because of the sin of one man in Israel the anger of the Lord was kindled against them. This fact was only made known after they suffered defeat in the battle of Ai. This tragedy melted the hearts of the people and caused Joshua to despair. (Verses 1-7)

2.  Hope was restored, however, when the Lord revealed the reason for Israel’s trouble, and that there was a way that the situation could be remedied.

a)  First a positive message of hope was perceived in the Lord’s negative statement, “neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed thing from among you.” It was the equivalent of “Ye shall perish except ye repent.” (Verse 12b; Luke 13:3)

b)  Second, faith was restored when the Lord gave positive instructions for the removal of the curse. (Verses 13-15)

3.  Thus, the people were informed of the cause of their defeat, and instructed to prepare themselves to appear before the Lord the day following. It would be that on the morrow the Lord would reveal who the guilty party was, so that by his destruction the curse might be removed from Israel.

4.  God was going to visit His people in judgment, for which visit they were to prepare by sanctifying themselves. Though it was a fearful and unpleasant business that faced them, to have the restored blessing of God would be well worth it all.

I.  HERE IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE ONE WHO TROUBLED ISRAEL SHOULD BE DISCOVERED. (VERSES 16-18)

A.  GOD WAS TO VISIT HIS PEOPLE IN JUDGMENT TO IDENTIFY THE GUILTY ONE FOR EXECUTION.

1.  The identification would be determined by the casting of the lot. By that process God would reveal, first the tribe, then the family, then the household, and finally the individual in that household who was guilty.

2.  Joshua had commanded the people on the night before to prepare themselves to appear before the Lord. “Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow.” (Verse 13)

3.  Surely every devout Israelite spent the night in solemn heart-searching. “Lord, is it I?” (Matt. 26:22) “Search me O God, and know my heart…” (Psa. 129:23, 24)

4.  Perhaps Joshua was hopeful that the solemn prospect would cause the guilty party to confess, thus sparing the people the whole process. Such a solution was not to be.

B.  JOSHUA WAS ZEALOUS TO SEE THE ACCURSED THING PUT AWAY. (VERSE 16)

1.  No one having come forward to confess, Joshua rose up early in the morning to begin the process of discovering the guilty party. This shows his zeal in putting away the accursed thing, and his earnest desire to have divine favor restored.

2.  How earnest and careful we should be in putting away anything and everything that might rob the church of the Lord’s presence and power.

C.  AS THE PRESCRIBED PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED THE DISCOVERY WAS MADE. (VERSES 17, 18)

1.  The Lord revealed by the lot that the guilty man was of the tribe of Judah. If the tribes were called as to order, we may assume that Reuben, Simeon, and Levi had already been cleared at the time when Judah was called.

2.  Of the families of Judah (five in all; see Num. 29:17-21) the family of the Zarhites was identified by the lot.

3.  The family of Zerah was examined man by man and the lot fell on Zabdi.

4.  Zabdi’s household was brought man by man until Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah was taken.

5.  How foolish men are to imagine that they can sin in secret and remain undetected. (Jer. 23:24; Eccl. 10:20; Psa. 94:7-11)

II.  HERE IS ACHAN’S CONFESSION AFTER HIS SIN WAS DISCOVERED. (VERSES 19-21)

A.  JOSHUA TENDERLY DREW FROM ACHAN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A HEART-FELT  CONFESSION.

1.  Joshua’s manner and language seems wonderfully gracious and kind, considering the awful trouble that this man’s sin had caused. “My son…” (Verse 19)

a)  He appealed to Achan as a father to his son.

b)  His aim seems to have been to bring from him the confession of a true penitent, one that would be to the good of his soul. (I Cor. 5:5) His temporal sentence would be death (the death of the body) but it need not be his eternal sentence (the death of the soul, or the second death).

2.  Achan’s confession appears to have been quite sincere. Although a confession that comes forth only after sin has found out the sinner can be suspect, this one has the marks of genuineness about it.

a)  He owned that his sin was against God first and foremost. (Psa. 51:4)

b)  He laid out honestly those three familiar steps that have led to many a sin, “I saw…I coveted…I took.”  (James 1:15; Heb. 13:5)

B.  ACHAN’S CONFESSION REVEALS THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF SIN. Besides that of seeing, then coveting, and finally taking, there is an increasing boldness that is encouraged when sin is allowed an entrance.

1.  The first act, though forbidden, seemed quite harmless. He saw a garment that was destined to be destroyed anyway, so what could it hurt to take it? Of course, the harm was that in taking it he transgressed the Law. It is not for us to decide what sins are more or less serious, but rather, to endeavor to keep every known commandment, knowing that sin breeds sin, and little sins lead to bigger sins.

2.  He then became more bold in his sin, taking a bag of silver and a wedge of gold. If he did reason that retrieving a garment from the fire was a harmless act, he certainly could not apply that thinking here. All precious metals were to be collected and preserved for the Lord’s treasury. (Ch. 6:19) Once sin is allowed, even so called harmless sin, bargaining with the conscience becomes easier and easier.

3.  The shameful nature of sin is seen in that he hid his stolen goods in the earth under his tent. (Verse 21b)

III.  HERE IS ACHAN’S CONDEMNATION AND EXECUTION. (VERSES 22-25)

A.  THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE WAS RETRIEVED FROM HIS TENT AND PRESENTED BEFORE THE COURT. (VERSES 22, 23)

1.  The items were “laid…out before the Lord.” Joshua conducted this trial in God’s stead.

2.  Joshua certainly needed nothing beyond the verdict which God had revealed through the lot to convince him of Achan’s guilt. However, this being a capital offense, and it being the duty of the people to execute the criminal, compelled him to satisfy any possible question or doubt.

a)  The lot fell on Achan.

b)  Confirmed by his own confession.

c)  Established upon physical evidence.

B.  HIS GUILT THOROUGHLY ESTABLISHED, ACHAN WAS TAKEN TO THE PLACE OF EXECUTION. (VERSE 24)

1.  He was taken outside the camp as an accursed thing. Our blessed Lord, when He became a curse for us, “suffered without the gate.” (Heb. 13:12, 13)

2.  The divine historian refers to the place by the name given to only after Achan’s execution. At the time of the writing of this history it was called “The Valley of Achor.”

3.  It was there that the unpleasant but necessary work was to be carried out by the people, whose obligation it was to put from them the accursed thing.

C.  THE GUILTY MAN WAS MADE TO FACE HIS CRIME, AND THE ADMINISTERING OF DIVINE JUSTICE IN HIS EXECUTION. (VERSE 25)

1.  He was reminded, as were they all, of the solemn warning that he had contemptuously ignored. “Why hast thou troubled us?” (See Ch. 6:18)

2.  His punishment, even capital punishment, as it was administered by the people, and under due process, was God’s work. “The Lord shall trouble thee.”

a)  God has ordained the powers that be. (Rom. 13:1)

b)  They are to govern in God’s stead, as extensions of Himself.

IV.  WHAT THE PEOPLE DID HERE WAS PAINFUL, BUT IT WAS FOR THEIR OWN GOOD. (VERSE 26)

A.  ONLY BY THIS EXTREME ACTION COULD THE LORD’S ANGER BE TURNED FROM THEM AND HIS FAVOR RESTORED. (VERSE 12; MATT. 5:29, 20)

1.  He had instructed them that in order to have His anger turned away they must destroy the accursed thing.

2.  “So the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger.” Having the Lord’s favor will cost us our sins.

B.  THAT WHICH HAPPENED HERE WAS MEMORIALIZED.

1.  A heap of stones marked the place where Israel’s troubler was slain and the curse lifted.

2.  The valley was renamed “The Valley of Achor” that is, “the valley of trouble.”

3.  The valley of Achor is said to have been given for a door of HOPE. (Hosea 2:15)

a)  Our HOPE begins where sin is put away.

b)  Our blessed Lord made the accursed place of the skull our door or hope, for at Calvary He took away our curse.

 

JUNE 12 / JUNE 19, 2016

 

ISRAEL’S TRESPASS IN THE ACCURSED THING

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  In light of what we have seen thus far in our study of this book, the first sentence of chapter seven comes as quite a shock.  In fact, the first word “But”) announces a contrast, and what a contrast it is, considering the faithful obedience so far exhibited by this people up until now. “But (we) the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing.”

2.  Each of the preceding chapters begins with a word that indicates continuous progression, but here we are immediately alerted that there is serious trouble ahead, for a trespass had been committed, and that, in the accursed thing.

3.  Although the nature of the trouble is yet to be revealed, we are plainly told the cause of it. “The accursed thing,” or “devoted thing.” (See margin on Ch. 6:18) The spoil of Jericho which was dedicated to the Lord was not to be seized for personal gain. (Ch. 6:18, 19)

4.  The warning notwithstanding one among them had taken of those consecrated things for himself, and by doing so, brought a curse on the whole camp of Israel.

 

I.  THE SIN OF ONE MAN KINDLED THE LORD’S ANGER AGAINST THE CHILDREN Of ISRAEL (VSE. 1)

A.  NOTICE FIRST OF ALL, THAT SIN CANNOT BE HIDDEN FROM GOD.

1.  Nothing about this transgressor was unknown to the Lord. He knew his name, his father’s name, his entire ancestry and tribe; plus He knew what he took, when he took it, and where he hid it.

2.  The sin was successfully hidden from his neighbors, and even from Joshua, but not from God. (Acts 5:1-11)

3.  Transgressors think they are clever, in that, they imagine their sins are secret, when, in fact, oftentimes they are not hidden even from other people, and never from God.

B.  NOTICE SECONDLY, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES GOD WAS RIGHTEOUS TO CHARGE THIS SIN TO ALL ISRAEL.(VSE. 1)

1.  On the principle of their organic unity as a nation, the guilt of one was imputed to all.

a)  The moral integrity of the covenant people was compromised by one man. A body is considered diseased even  if the malady is in only one of its members.

b)  The trespass would rest upon all until by public condemnation it was removed.  “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” “Purge out therefore the old leaven…” (I Cor. 5:6, 7)

2.  The church also is one body, though it has many members.

a)  Sin in the assembly can rob a church of God’s blessing, even when the sin is hidden from the membership. For this reason our teaching and preaching must even include public condemnation of sin, for by such the Holy  Spirit exercises discipline within the body. (II Tim. 3:16-4:2)

b)  Open sin in the church must be dealt with in the manner prescribed in the New Testament. (I Cor. 5:1ff)

c)  Individual believers cannot harbor sin and at the same time expect God’s favor and blessing. (I Cor. 6:19, 20;  “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, ..” (II Cor. 6:17)

3.  Other situations in which the guilt of one must be shared by others.

a)  When an act expresses the prevailing spirit of the community. Peter thus rightly charged the multitude with the death of Christ. (Acts 2:23; 3:14, 15)

b)  When the crime of one is used by others for personal gain.

c)  When the guilty one holds a representative position.

4.  God’s anger was kindled against the children of Israel as a whole because of the sin of one. This we know, but how will He make known His displeasure?

II.  BECAUSE OF THE TRESPASS ISRAEL SUFFERED DEFEAT AT AI. (VERSES 2-5)

A.  THOUGH ACHAN’S TRESPASS WAS THE INITIAL CAUSE OF ISRAEL’S TROUBLE, THERE WERE SOME DISTURBING ACTIONS ON THE PART OF OTHERS AS WELL. (VERSES 2, 3) Could Achan’s sin, even before it was known to others, have somehow inexplicably had a negative and unwholesome effect on the whole camp? Sin is an infectious evil.

1.  Notice, with no thought of anything being wrong, “Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai.” This is not to say that Joshua did not first seek the Lord’s will and direction in this, but we are not told that he did so.

2.  Notice also, that the spies, as they returned and gave their report, seem to convey an attitude of presumption and  pride.

a)  In the first place, these men seem to have overstepped their role as spies, and asserted themselves as counsellors to Joshua.

b)  Notice how the advice they gave came from an attitude of self-confidence. We must never allow that our own pride be fueled by what God has done.

c)  It is striking that the counsel they gave was completely contrary to that which the Lord would afterward give.  (Verse 3; Ch. 8:1)

d)  They gave greater consideration to the ease and comfort of the people, than they did to obeying God’s will.  “Make not all the people to labor thither.” Was there such a spirit among them?

e)  They spoke with great confidence, but sadly, it seems to have been self-confidence, and it was based upon wrong calculations. “…let about two or three thousand men go up AND SMITE AI, …for they are but few.”  They saw little Ai as easy prey with or without the Lord’s help.

3.  Perhaps even Joshua himself was too much a party to the spirit of presumption that is seen in his spies.

a)  After all, he did according to the advice of his men. How is it that he who had been so careful to seek heavenly counsel, now consults only with flesh and blood?

b)  How differently things might have turned out had Joshua only acted beforehand as he did afterward. (See Verses 6, 7)

c)  Was the defeat at Ai necessary to the discovery of Achan’s sin? Could not the Lord have revealed the problem before the mission was launched? Might the Lord have made it known to Joshua, had He been consulted?

d)  Too many times we see the need to deal with sin only after we have been made to suffer for sake of it.  Although grieving over what might have been cannot change what is done, it might serve in helping to avoid like future troubles.

B.  THE UNEXPECTED DEFEAT WHICH ISRAEL SUFFERED AT AI WAS TRAGIC AND  DISHEARTENING. (VERSES 4, 5)

1.  Joshua, it appears, went with the ill-conceived plan that was recommended by his spy team. (Verse 4)

2.  He sent about three thousand troops, but they were made to flee from the battle. In the retreat thirty-six men lost their lives, and the rest lost their courage. (Verse 5)

3.  When God’s presence went with them, even the great walls of Jericho could not prevail against them; but when God’s favor and blessing were sacrificed to their sin, little tiny Ai put them to flight.

a)  Sin robs God of His glory, and deprives His people of His blessing.

b)  At Jericho they learned that it is not by power, nor by might, but by God’s Spirit that battles are won. At Ai  they learned again the same truth, only this time by negative example. Sometimes we too must learn this lesson the hard way.

III.  THE AWFUL TRAGEDY OF ISRAEL’S DEFEAT AT AI PROMPTED GREAT HUMILIATION AND DESPERATE PLEADINGS ON JOSHUA’S PART. (VERSES 6-9)

A.  JOSHUA GRIEVED AND MOURNED IN SILENCE UNTIL THE EVENING. (VERSE 6)

1.  He was on his face before the ark. He humbled himself before the Lord. He knew that somehow God’s honor had been compromised.

2.  He rent his garments and put dust on his head, as these were signs of mourning. He mourned over the sad defeat at Ai, but more so, over the Lord’s displeasure, and the reason for it.

3.  His officers also mourned before the Lord.

B.  AFTER A TIME OF MOURNING JOSHUA BEGAN TO PRAY AND PLEAD WITH GOD. (VERSE 7)

1.  His prayer was at first more a complaint than a plea. Overwhelmed by grief, he began to speak rashly and faithlessly. (Verse 7) His complaint sounds too much like that spoken by some of his generation in the wilderness. (Ex. 14:11, 12; 16:3; 17:3; Num. 14:2, 3) But, the Lord Who searches the heart knew that they came from another spirit, and was not extreme to mark them.

2.  Joshua spoke as one who was at a loss to know the meaning of this tragedy. (Verse 8) “What shall I say?” How is it that Israel, having been promised full possession of the land, should come to flee and even fall before a people so insignificant? Is the Lord’s arm shortened? Are His promises good?

3.  Joshua then expressed his fear of the dangers they would now face from the other Canaanites, if Israel’s defense had departed. “…and cut off our name from the earth.”

4.  He feared that all of this would reflect on God, His wisdom and power, His goodness and faithfulness. “And  what wilt thou do unto thy great name.” This, should have been his first concern, because it is for God’s own great name that He will be entreated.

IV.  THE LORD WOULD NOW REVEAL TO JOSHUA THE CAUSE OF THIS DISASTER, AND HOW IT WAS TO BE REMEDIED. (VERSES 10-15)

A.  HE MADE KNOWN TO JOSHUA THE REASON FOR ISRAEL’S FAILURE AND LOSS AT AI. (VERSES 10-12)

1.  The Lord had not allowed His people to suffer this defeat for no reason, and the implication seems to be that Joshua either ought to have suspected, or did suspect, what that reason was. “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou on thy face? Israel hath sinned…”

2.  Joshua was not wrong to be on his face expressing deep humiliation and grief, and crying out to the Lord. However, he was wrong to express his complaint in the manner which he did. (Verse 7) He was wrong to continue expressing his fears about what might come of it, all the while delaying to take appropriate actions to deal with the problem. Only one thing could have caused God to abandon them to defeat. “Israel hath sinned.”  They had transgressed the Lord’s covenant, in that, they had taken of the devoted things. Joshua’s present posture was not helpful for doing what needed to be done, therefore the Lord said, “Get thee up.”

3.  It appears that after the action, Joshua must have immediately conducted an inquiry into the matter, for the Lord included dissembling among their transgressions. Achan had apparently lied about having stolen items which he had already hidden among his stuff. (Verse 11b)

4.  The Lord’s words in Verse 12 leave no doubt about why Israel could not stand before this enemy, and why they turned and fled. “Because they were accursed.” The Lord also made clear that there was but one way to remove the curse from off them, and to regain His favor and blessing. “…except ye destroy the accursed thing.”

B.  HE INSTRUCTED JOSHUA WHAT MUST BE DONE TO REMEDY AND REGAIN HIS FAVOR. (VERSES 13-15)

1.  He must instruct the people to put themselves in a suitable frame to appear before God on the morrow. “Sanctify the people.” (Verse 13)

2.  He must bring them all under the scrutiny of the lot, by which the guilty party would be identified. (Verse 14)

3.  He must, when the guilty person was found out, put him to death without mercy. (Verse 1

 

MAY 29, 2016

 

JERICHO, AN OFFERING OF FIRST FRUITS

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into thine hand.” That which God had ordained to happen, He could speak of in the past tense, as though it had already come to pass. Therefore, Joshua could by faith claim the victory solely based on God’s promise. (I John 5:4; Heb. 11:10

2.  God’s foreordination, however, does not only concern the outcome but also the means by which that outcome shall be achieved. We need not look for the promised blessing if we ignore the prescribed means. This is certainly true when it comes to the salvation of God’s elect. (II Thess. 2:13; II Tim. 2:10)

3.  Joshua and the people were faithful in carrying out their divine instruction in the matter of gaining the victory over Jericho. Though the divine method may have seemed foolish, it was that which God was pleased to use, therefore the people fully heeded the orders given by their leader right down to the final shout. (Isa. 55:8; I Cor. 1:21)

4.  The walls of Jericho fell down flat, just as the Lord had said they would. (Verse 5, 20) When the people heard the long blast of the priests’ trumpets, Joshua said to them, “Shout, for the Lord hath given you the city.”

5.  Yes, the Lord did give to them the city of Jericho, but of them He would require that it should be given back to Him as an offering of first fruits.

 

I.  JERICHO WAS TO BE WHOLLY DEDICATED TO THE LORD. (VERSES 17-21)

A.  JERICHO, BEING THE FIRST FRUITS OF ISRAEL’S CONQUEST IN CANAAN, WAS TO BE OFFERED AS A SACRIFICE OT THE LORD. “The city shall be accursed.” (Literally devoted, as the margin reads; see Lev. 27:21, 28, 29)

1.  The city was devoted to utter destruction, along with all its inhabitants, save Rahab and her house. (Verse 17)

2.  The city of Jericho, which was the Lord’s by right of creation, and now by right of conquest, He gave to the people that He might require it at their hand. As all sacrifices which He requires of his people, this was to be done in worship.

a)  The tithe is the Lord’s, yet He gives it into our hands so that we may offer it unto Him.

b)  As Christians, our lives belong to Him, not only by right of creation like all others, but by right of redemption, yet it is our duty to present them to Him as living sacrifices. (Rom. 12:1)

3.  Hereafter, as they would gain victories over their various enemies, to the victors would be the spoil, but not so with respect to Jericho. All silver and gold, along with all other retrieved valuables, were consecrated to the Lord. (Verse 19)

4.  Whatsoever was not devoted to the Lord’s treasury was devoted to utter destruction. The city and all things within it were to be burned with fire, and all living beings were to be sacrificed to the justice of God. (Verse 21)

5.  The only exceptions were Rahab and her family, who were kept safe within the house with the scarlet cord in the window. (Verses 17b, 22, 23; Ch. 2:17-19)

a)  Rahab and her family were excepted because they were trusting to the sacrifice of another. The scarlet cord in the window was put there as the sign of the covenant made between their household and the spies. That cord represented the blood of Christ, who is the surety of the everlasting covenant of grace.

b)  In the great Day of Judgment divine justice will require the blood of all the guilty, excepting those who are trusting to the redeeming blood of Christ for their salvation. (I Pet. 1:18, 19)

c)  It was by faith that Rahab was saved (Heb. 11:31), yet saving faith and the works which validate it are inseparable. (James 2:17, 18) Thus, the Holy Spirit attributes her salvation to her works. (Verse 17b; James 2:25, 26) Our Lord also spoke in like manner. (John 5:28, 29; Matt. 25:31-26, 41-43)

B.  PARTICULAR WARNING WAS GIVEN REGARDING THE SPOIL OF JERICHO, LEST ANY BE TEMPTED TO TAKE FOR THEMSELVES THAT WHICH WAS DEDICATED TO THE LORD. (VS. 18)

1.  This should have been a needless warning, but sadly, it was not. God’s people ought to reckon themselves enriched by that which is laid up in honor to God, yet such is not always the case. (Mal. 3:8, 9)

2.  Failure to render to the Lord what is rightfully His makes that which is kept back an accursed thing. “Will a man rob God?” Sadly, the answer in too many cases is yes, but the question is to what advantage?

3.  Regarding this matter the transgression of one, Joshua warned, would be troublesome to all. “Lest you make the camp of Israel a curse and trouble it.” It was as if Joshua could foresee the sin of Achan. As revealed in the next chapter, this is exactly what Achan did. God’s people are not islands to themselves. The indiscretions of one affect the whole church family. (I Cor. 5:1, 2, 6)

II.  RAHAB AND HER HOUSE WERE SAVED ACCORDING TO THE SOLEMN OATH THAT WAS TAKEN. (VERSES 22-25; CH. 2:14, 17, 19, 21)

A.  JOSHUA WAS FAITHFUL TO THE PROMISE THAT WAS MADE TO RAHAB. (VERSE 22)

1.  Joshua’s faithfulness was for sake of God’s honor. The spies had not only given their word, which, since they were sent by Joshua, made it his word, but beyond that, they had sworn an oath. Failure to make good on the promise made to Rahab would therefore have brought reproach upon the name of Jehovah.

2.  Rahab’s sure confidence was in the unfailing Word of God. She knew not Joshua and she had barely met the two spies who came to her house, but because of what she had heard about Israel’s God, and through the witness of the Spirit of the Lord, she knew His Word could be trusted.

3.  Joshua’s faithfulness to the promise also had respect to her faithfulness. (Verse 25b) It is a shame and disgrace when we fail to remember the services and acts of kindness done on our behalf.

B.  THE SPIES THEMSELVES WERE APPARENTLY EAGER TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR AGREEMENT WITH RAHAB. (VERSE 23)

1.  They hasted and went into the house in which the scarlet cord was displayed in the window, and brought out Rahab, and a host of others family member with her.

2.  They must have been impressed to see how effective this woman had been in her efforts to secure the salvation of her family members. “And they brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren,…and all her kindred.”

3.  We are not told the total number, but clearly Rahab had used what time she had after she sent the spies away to evangelize her extended family, bringing as many as she could reach into her own house, which was the house of the covenant – the designated house of safety.

4.  Let us be so concerned for our family members that they might come into the household of faith, the only house that is made safe and secure by the blood of Christ.

C.  GOD HIMSELF HONORED THE COVENANT THAT WAS SWORN IN HIS NAME.

1.  Joshua’s faithfulness and the spies’ sincerity notwithstanding, had not God honored the covenant that was made in His name it would all have been to no avail.

a)  Had not God’s judgment passed over the house where the scarlet token of the covenant was displayed, it would have become a heap of rubble like all the rest.

b)  When the two men were sent to find the house and bring out the survivors, not only was it the only house with a scarlet cord in the window, it was apparently the only house left standing.

2.  It was divine wisdom that prompted Rahab to demand that an oath be sworn, for it is covenant mercy that is sure mercy. It was also in keeping with covenant mercy that the spies required that she display the true token, for it is only when the blood is seen that divine judgment will pass over. (Ex. 12:12, 13)

D.  RAHAB WAS, BY FAITH, SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION, AND ALSO RECEIVED INTO THE SOCIETY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. (VERSE 25)

1.  This is the dual effect that true saving faith still has on believers.

a)  It saves from the condemnation of the world, and it also separates from the society of the world.

b)  Those who profess to believe but have no desire for the society of believers give reason to doubt the genuineness of their profession.

III.  JERICHO WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND CONDEMNED TO PERPETUAL DESOLATION. (VERSES 24, 26)

A.  ONLY WHAT WAS DESIGNATED TO BE PRESERVED FOR THE LORD WAS SPARED THE CONSUMING FLAMES. (VERSE 24)

1.  Of the inhabitants, only Rahab and her house were the Lord’s redeemed.

2.  Of the material things, only the valuable vessels and precious metals were taken out to be kept for the Lord’s treasury.

B.  JERICHO WAS NOT TO BE REBUILT, BUT TO REMAIN A SPOT DEVOTED TO GOD FOREVER.  (VERSE 26)

1.  Though it was in a fruitful plain, restoration was forbidden.

2.  The ruins of Jericho would remain as a monument to God’s wrath against the Canaanites when the cup of their iniquity became full. (Deut. 13:16) It would bear witness to the weight of the divine curse, of which all who come under it face ruin without remedy.

3.  A curse was pronounced upon any man that would attempt to rebuild Jericho.

a)  In the days of the wicked King Ahab, almost four and a half centuries later, one Hiel the Bethelite  dared to ignore the solemn warning. He found that the passing of time had not removed the curse that was pronounced. (See I Kings 16:34)

b)  It is indeed wonderful that our blessed Lord, in the days of His ministry, as He was making His final journey to Jerusalem, directed His steps through the city of Jericho. Not only did He go there, but He displayed His great mercies, and wrought salvation, delivering even some of the worst among them from the awful curse of sin. (Luke 18:35-19:10)

c)  Because of sin the whole world was brought under its awful curse, but thanks be to God Who sent His son into the world to bear that curse for His chosen ones, and to redeem their lives from destruction.