Consequences of Disobedience: Achan's Lesson for Us
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into Joshua 6:18-19, exploring the story of Achan and the consequences of his disobedience. The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, had just experienced a miraculous victory at Jericho. However, God commanded them not to take any of the devoted items for themselves, warning that doing so would bring trouble upon the entire nation. Achan, driven by greed, disobeyed this command, taking silver, gold, and a valuable cloak, and hiding them in his tent. This act of disobedience led to a devastating defeat at Ai, where 36 Israelite soldiers lost their lives.
The story of Achan teaches us that sin is never isolated; it affects not just the individual but the entire community. Achan's sin brought God's wrath upon the whole nation, illustrating the interconnectedness of the body of Christ. Just as one hidden sin can bring down a family or a church, so too can unrepentant sin in our lives affect those around us. We must be vigilant in rooting out sin, not just for our sake but for the sake of our families and communities.
Moreover, the story emphasizes the importance of obedience and humility before God. Joshua's failure to seek God's guidance before attacking Ai, driven by pride from their previous victory, resulted in a humiliating defeat. This serves as a reminder that we need God in every battle, big or small. Prayer should precede action, aligning our hearts with God's will and seeking His guidance in all things.
Finally, the story of Achan underscores the necessity of repentance. Achan confessed his sin only when he was caught, showing no true remorse. True repentance involves not just confession but a heartfelt turning away from sin and towards God. When we genuinely repent, God is faithful to forgive and restore us, turning what the enemy meant for harm into something good.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Interconnectedness of Sin: Sin is never an isolated act; it affects the entire community. Achan's disobedience brought God's wrath upon all of Israel, leading to a devastating defeat. This story reminds us that our actions, whether good or bad, have a ripple effect on those around us, especially within the body of Christ. [14:01]
2. The Importance of Obedience: God commanded the Israelites not to take any devoted items from Jericho, but Achan disobeyed. This act of disobedience had severe consequences, illustrating the importance of following God's commands fully. Obedience to God is not just about avoiding punishment but about aligning ourselves with His will and purpose. [11:45]
3. The Necessity of Humility and Prayer: Joshua's pride led him to attack Ai without seeking God's guidance, resulting in a humiliating defeat. This teaches us the importance of humility and the necessity of seeking God's direction in all things. Prayer should precede action, ensuring that we are aligned with God's will and not acting out of our own pride or self-reliance. [30:24]
4. True Repentance: Achan confessed his sin only when he was caught, showing no true remorse. True repentance involves a heartfelt turning away from sin and towards God. When we genuinely repent, God is faithful to forgive and restore us, turning what the enemy meant for harm into something good. [49:36]
5. The Impact of Hidden Sin: Hidden sin can bring down an entire family or community. Achan's hidden sin led to the death of 36 soldiers and brought God's wrath upon Israel. We must be vigilant in rooting out sin in our lives, not just for our sake but for the sake of those around us. True repentance and confession are necessary for restoration and healing. [51:46]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[05:21] - Opening Prayer
[06:27] - Introduction to Joshua 6:18-19
[09:25] - Context of Israel's Conquest
[11:05] - God's Command and Achan's Disobedience
[14:01] - The Interconnectedness of Sin
[18:18] - The Impact of Sin on Families
[23:57] - Israel's Defeat at Ai
[28:24] - Joshua's Pride and Blame
[30:24] - The Necessity of Humility and Prayer
[33:46] - God's Instructions to Joshua
[34:25] - Achan's Confession
[36:04] - The Consequences for Achan's Family
[39:36] - Complicity in Sin
[45:08] - The Danger of Enabling Sin
[51:46] - The Impact of Hidden Sin
[54:39] - The Promise of Restoration
[56:06] - Closing Prayer
[59:17] - Call to Worship and Repentance
[01:04:47] - Invitation for Prayer
[01:13:18] - The Gospel Message
[01:14:34] - Offering and Announcements
[01:21:19] - Closing Remarks and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Joshua 6:18-19 (ESV): "But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them, you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord."
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific command did God give the Israelites regarding the devoted items in Jericho? ([11:05])
2. How did Achan's disobedience affect the entire nation of Israel? ([14:01])
3. What was Joshua's reaction after the defeat at Ai, and what does this reveal about his state of mind? ([27:09])
4. How did Achan's family become complicit in his sin, and what were the consequences? ([38:59])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God emphasized the importance of not taking the devoted items from Jericho? What does this teach us about obedience to God's commands? ([11:45])
2. How does the story of Achan illustrate the interconnectedness of sin within a community or family? ([14:01])
3. In what ways did Joshua's failure to seek God's guidance before attacking Ai demonstrate a lack of humility and reliance on God? ([30:24])
4. What does true repentance look like according to the sermon, and how did Achan's confession fall short of this standard? ([49:36])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your actions, whether good or bad, had a ripple effect on those around you. How did it impact your family or community? ([14:01])
2. Are there areas in your life where you struggle with obedience to God's commands? What steps can you take to align yourself more closely with His will? ([11:45])
3. How can you cultivate a habit of seeking God's guidance through prayer before making decisions, both big and small? ([30:24])
4. Think about a hidden sin in your life that might be affecting your family or community. What steps can you take to bring it to light and seek repentance? ([51:46])
5. How can you support others in your community or family to hold each other accountable and avoid complicity in sin? ([38:59])
6. In what ways can you demonstrate true repentance in your life, beyond just confessing your sins? ([49:36])
7. Identify a specific area where pride might be hindering your relationship with God. How can you practice humility and reliance on Him in that area? ([30:24])
Devotional
Day 1: The Ripple Effect of Sin
Sin is never an isolated act; it affects the entire community. The story of Achan in Joshua 6:18-19 illustrates this truth vividly. Achan's disobedience in taking the devoted items from Jericho brought God's wrath upon all of Israel, leading to a devastating defeat at Ai where 36 soldiers lost their lives. This narrative underscores the interconnectedness of the body of Christ. Just as one hidden sin can bring down a family or a church, so too can unrepentant sin in our lives affect those around us. We must be vigilant in rooting out sin, not just for our sake but for the sake of our families and communities. [14:01]
Joshua 7:11-12 (ESV): "Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you."
Reflection: Think of a hidden sin in your life that might be affecting those around you. How can you bring this sin into the light and seek God's forgiveness today?
Day 2: The Weight of Obedience
God commanded the Israelites not to take any devoted items from Jericho, but Achan disobeyed. This act of disobedience had severe consequences, illustrating the importance of following God's commands fully. Obedience to God is not just about avoiding punishment but about aligning ourselves with His will and purpose. When we obey God, we position ourselves to receive His blessings and protection. Conversely, disobedience can lead to dire consequences, not just for us but for those around us. [11:45]
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (ESV): "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are struggling to obey God's commands? What steps can you take today to align yourself more closely with His will?
Day 3: The Necessity of Humility and Prayer
Joshua's pride led him to attack Ai without seeking God's guidance, resulting in a humiliating defeat. This teaches us the importance of humility and the necessity of seeking God's direction in all things. Prayer should precede action, ensuring that we are aligned with God's will and not acting out of our own pride or self-reliance. When we humble ourselves and seek God's guidance, we invite His wisdom and strength into our situations, leading to victory and success. [30:24]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision you made without seeking God's guidance. How might the outcome have been different if you had prayed first? What can you do to make prayer a more integral part of your decision-making process?
Day 4: The Heart of True Repentance
Achan confessed his sin only when he was caught, showing no true remorse. True repentance involves a heartfelt turning away from sin and towards God. When we genuinely repent, God is faithful to forgive and restore us, turning what the enemy meant for harm into something good. True repentance is not just about confessing our sins but about a complete change of heart and behavior. It is about seeking God's forgiveness and making a conscious effort to turn away from our sinful ways. [49:36]
2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV): "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."
Reflection: Think about a time when you confessed a sin but did not truly repent. What does true repentance look like for you, and how can you seek it today?
Day 5: The Danger of Hidden Sin
Hidden sin can bring down an entire family or community. Achan's hidden sin led to the death of 36 soldiers and brought God's wrath upon Israel. We must be vigilant in rooting out sin in our lives, not just for our sake but for the sake of those around us. True repentance and confession are necessary for restoration and healing. When we hide our sins, we give them power over us and allow them to fester and grow. By bringing our sins into the light and seeking God's forgiveness, we can break free from their hold and experience true freedom and healing. [51:46]
Psalm 32:3-5 (ESV): "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."
Reflection: Is there a hidden sin in your life that you need to confess? How can you bring it into the light and seek God's forgiveness today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If you're new with us, whether you're just visiting or you're looking for a home church, we hope that you're going to be a part of this. We hope that you feel at home and a part of the family. We do things a little bit different. So we start with the word and ground ourselves before we go into the music." [05:46] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You cannot serve Christ apart from the body of Christ. You are automatically baptized into the body of Christ. When you serve him. When there is a hidden disease in the body, it latches on maybe even to a single organ, it can metastasize and spread. And the entire body can become sick even if just one member has a sickness or an infection." [15:14] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The purpose of prayer is to invite God to change your heart to align with His. That's why you start with prayer. Friends, if you've got a hard day, you want to start with prayer. But if you've got an easy day, you also want to start with prayer. Because even the easy days, you need God. You start with prayer. You end with prayer." [32:40] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When there is repentance, when you say, I'm not going to wait until I get caught, but I'm going to go to the tent and I'm going to dig up this stuff and say, Lord, I've hit these things. Lord, I am keeping these things. Lord, I even got my family to cover for me. Lord, I give these things to you. When we do that, God swoops in and he shows us kindness and grace and he issues us forgiveness." [53:39] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The Lord is good. The Lord is so good. He takes the evil and destruction in our lives at our own hands and He forgives, He redeems and He restores and He heals. This is the gospel of Jesus and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that by putting our faith in the Christ He transforms our heart and enables us to do that." [01:13:18] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The effects of sin are not isolated to the original person. We live in such an individualistic society. You do you, I'll do me. Don't get in my business. I won't get in yours. Focus on yourself. Stay out of me, out of my business. That's not how sin works. Sin infects everything. As we have seen in this text, it only took one sin, to bring down an entire nation." [14:01] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Do not protect someone, even if they are your kids, from the full discipline of the Lord and the consequences of their sin. If you come alongside them and help them, blame God, don't shift. Let's find someone to blame. We gotta find somebody to blame. Let's blame the church. Let's blame the other family. Let's blame Grandpa. He's the one that started this generational sin. Let's blame him." [46:15] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "A confession can make a person look repentant on the outside while having no plans to change on the inside. So Achan brought his whole family into his sin, convinced them, to help him hide it in the family tent, and he put his entire nation, his church, under the punishment and wrath of God." [50:26] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Maybe the reason why things aren't clicking in your family is because there's sin in the camp. Something's buried in the family tent and it needs to be dug up. Sin always brings death. A lot of times we think of that like physical death and then eternal death in hell. But sin always brings different types of death. It brings death to relationships. It brings death to marriages. It brings death to friendships." [51:46] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you continue to step in and get between them and God's wrath, your insolence, defilating them from the full discipline of the Lord, you are not helping them. You are hurting them. Stop helping people hide their sin. Achan was a horrible human being. Well, he confessed his sin. Isn't that good? Well, yeah, kind of. But when he confessed his sin, the Bible did not indicate he showed any remorse." [48:59] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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