GraceNotes

A Monthly Letter of Encouragement To Men and Women in Christian Service
From Jim Stephens - Resource Ministries
Issue 103 – March 2007
Copyright©2007 - Jim Stephens

Get Up!
Deal With the Problem, Get on With the Mission…

But Israel was unfaithful concerning the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. (Joshua 7:1 NLT)

Everything looked so good! Israel had a new leader, it was a new season for the nation, and they were facing new and very rewarding challenges. God had affirmed Joshua’s leadership with a great miracle in crossing the flooded Jordan River on dry ground. God had given Joshua a remarkable strategy for the conquest of the walled city of Jericho that once again displayed God’s miraculous power and gave the Israelites a decisive victory. It’s as if things just don’t get any better than this.

Then in their very next battle against the city of Ai, a small city of only 12,000 people compared with 1,500,000 Israelites and an army 600,000 strong, the Israelites were soundly defeated, suffering the loss of thirty-six soldiers as they fled in panic from the battle.

Israel had suffered a military defeat at the hands of a much smaller force. Suddenly a situation that seemed too good to be true began to seem too bad to endure. As a result of this defeat in battle, “The Israelites were paralyzed with fear and their courage melted away.” (Joshua 7:5 NLT)

Joshua had sent some men fresh from the victory at Jericho to spy out the city of Ai. Is this perhaps a weak point with Joshua – sending spies instead of inquiring of the Lord? If so, he repeats the mistake in Joshua 9:14-15 when he relies on observation rather than revelation to decide about the Gibeonites.

Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothes, threw dust on their heads, and threw themselves on the ground before the Ark of the Lord. Then Joshua began to cry out to the Lord, “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! Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has fled from its enemies? For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe us off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?” Then The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen the things that I commanded to be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them; they have also lied about it and have hidden the things among their belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat…. “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.” (Joshua 7:7-13 NLT)

Joshua began to cry out to the Lord, a very good response when things go suddenly and terribly wrong. But when Joshua began to pray, he was asking God the wrong questions. Look again at his prayer and his conclusions:

“Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us?”

God had not brought them across the Jordan River to let the Amorites kill them. God had brought them across the Jordan River to give them victory in battles and to grant them the fulfillment of the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They knew that!

“If only we had been content to stay on the other side (everything would have been alright!)”

Joshua begins whining here. “If only…!” When you start with the “If only’s” and the “What if’s” you’re in trouble. In the first place, things would not have been alright “if only” they had stayed on the other side of the Jordan River because that season was over. There was no more Moses to lead them in the wilderness, the season of manna and water from the rock was finished, and it was time to get on with the next step in God’s plan for them.

“Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has fled from its enemies?”

Joshua was on the spot and was worried about how to save face with the people he was leading. What should Joshua or what should you and I say when we suddenly and unexpectedly experience reversal or disappointment? Here are some suggestions:

1. Have I done something wrong or neglected to do something you have instructed me to do?
2. Is there a lesson you want me to learn from this experience?
3. What do you want me to do right now?

“For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe us off the face of the earth.”

Joshua, stop whining! Look at all that God has done to bring you this far! Consider the miraculous way God brought you into the land and defeated Jericho. Think of all the history since God brought you out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership. If you trust God and obey him fully, you will be successful. Remember what Moses told you all in the book of Deuteronomy!

“And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?”

Joshua, let God be concerned about the honor of His name. You and I should concentrate on full obedience to his commands.

I don’t mean to sound critical of Joshua here. I don’t mean to imply that he was weak or faithless or a bad leader. It’s just that Joshua’s response is so much like the response that I’m inclined to make when things go suddenly wrong that what I see for him is what I see for me!

God ignored the words of Joshua’s prayer but responded to the humility and honesty of Joshua’s cry. And God said, “Get up off your face. Call the people together. Confront the sin that has caused the problem. Then get on with the conquest of Canaan!”

The Core Problem Was One Man's Sin

The core problem here was that one man among all the warriors who participated in the conquest of Jericho had disobeyed God’s clear command that no one was to take any spoils from Jericho. Achan had seen some very valuable things; clothing, coins, and a bar of gold, and had taken them from Jericho and had hidden them – buried beneath the floor of his tent. Here’s a thought that makes Achan’s sin just as foolish as the sins you and I commit: Where was Achan going to wear the robe and where was he going to spend the money?

By the way, what actually was the sin? Was it to take the spoils of victory for oneself? Not at all. In all subsequent battles, the warriors were allowed to take valuable things from the conquest for their own benefit and use. The sin was that in the first battle of conquest, God had claimed all the spoils for Himself. Only in the battle for Jericho did God command the Israelites to leave everything alone. The spoils of the conquest of Jericho were a kind of firstfruits offering to God – dedicated to God and therefore sacred. Achan’s sin was in taking for himself that which had been dedicated and set apart for the Lord. He could have had all he wanted of the spoils if he had only waited until the next battle, the conquest of Ai.

I thought about that for myself. In Christ I have freedom to make my own choices. But as soon as I have dedicated something to the Lord – my time, my abilities, my resources – then to use it any other way becomes sin.

One man’s disobedience brought the conquest of Canaan to a halt until it was dealt with. What affect is my disobedience going to have on my family, my church, the mission and purpose God has called me to participate in?

God said, “Deal with the problem, get on with the mission!”

Here’s a great picture of God’s redemptive nature at work. God gave them a strategy for the conquest of Ai that took into account the failure they had experienced the first time. (See Joshua 8:1-29)

It’s encouraging to see the outcome of this story in the last part of Joshua chapter 8. After the conquest of Ai, Joshua built an altar to the Lord and copied all the words of the law of Moses onto the stones of the altar as a permanent memorial. Then in a powerful ceremony, Joshua divided the nation into two groups, one on Mt Ebal and one on Mt Gerazim with the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant between them. Then Joshua reminded the people of all the blessings for obedience and the consequences of disobedience.

Let’s remember all that God has done for us and all that God has said to us. Then when things suddenly go wrong and we are defeated or disappointed, we can go to God in prayer and remember to ask the right questions:

1. Have I done something wrong or neglected to do something you have instructed me to do?
2. Is there a lesson you want me to learn from this experience?
3. What do you want me to do right now?

God’s Encouraging Promises

Here are some very encouraging promises from God. Take a few moments to remember all that God has said to you and all that he has done for you.

25 Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span. (Exodus 23:25-26)

Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire? (2 Samuel 23:5)

12 Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. 13 They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the Promised Land. 14 Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear Him. With them He shares the secrets of His covenant. (Psalm 25:12-14)

In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God. We trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the Lord, in Whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation He brings!” (Isaiah 25:9 NLT)

I will be your God throughout your lifetime — until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. (Isaiah 46:4 NLT)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

God’s Best Blessings Upon You,

Jim Stephens

*******************************************************************

Amazing Grace! ...Tis Grace hath brought me safe this far, and Grace will lead me home!

*******************************************************************