Obedience, Sin, and Restoration: Lessons from Ai

 

Summary

### Summary

Today's sermon focused on the story of Israel's defeat at Ai, as recounted in Joshua 7. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of sin. After the miraculous victory at Jericho, where God clearly demonstrated His power and guidance, the Israelites faced a humbling defeat at Ai due to Achan's disobedience. Achan took items that were devoted to God, hiding them in his tent, which led to Israel's defeat because God's favor was withdrawn.

Joshua's initial reaction to the defeat was one of despair and questioning God's intentions, similar to the complaints of the Israelites during their wilderness journey. However, God revealed that the defeat was due to sin within the camp. This underscores a critical lesson: victory and success come from following God's instructions, while disobedience leads to failure and loss.

The sermon also highlighted the human tendency to blame external circumstances or others for our failures instead of examining our own hearts and actions. Joshua's response to the defeat at Ai initially mirrored this tendency, but God directed him to address the root cause—Achan's sin. The process of identifying and dealing with Achan's sin was public and thorough, illustrating that hidden sins have far-reaching consequences and must be dealt with openly and honestly.

The story of Achan serves as a sobering reminder that our actions, even those done in secret, can affect the entire community. It also emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and the need for transparency and confession to restore God's favor. The sermon concluded with a call to self-examination, especially as we partake in the Lord's Supper, reminding us of the need to align our lives with God's will and to seek His guidance continually.

### Key Takeaways

1. Obedience to God's Commands: The victory at Jericho was a direct result of following God's specific instructions. This teaches us that success in our spiritual journey is tied to our obedience to God's word. Disobedience, as seen in Achan's actions, leads to failure and loss. We must prioritize God's commands over our desires. [35:52]

2. The Consequences of Hidden Sin: Achan's sin, though committed in secret, had public and devastating consequences for the entire nation of Israel. This illustrates that no sin is truly hidden from God and that our actions can impact others. Confession and repentance are crucial to restoring God's favor. [54:48]

3. Personal Responsibility: Joshua's initial reaction to the defeat at Ai was to question God, similar to the Israelites' complaints in the wilderness. This highlights the human tendency to blame external factors rather than examining our own hearts. True spiritual growth requires us to take personal responsibility for our actions and seek God's guidance. [47:33]

4. The Importance of Self-Examination: The process of identifying Achan's sin was thorough and public, emphasizing the need for self-examination and transparency. As believers, we are called to regularly examine our hearts, especially during times of communion, to ensure we are living in alignment with God's will. [59:51]

5. God's Faithfulness and Guidance: Despite Israel's failure, God remained faithful and provided a way to address the sin and restore His favor. This reassures us that God is always ready to guide us back to the right path if we are willing to listen and obey. Our victories come from His strength, not our own. [50:00]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[32:28] - Introduction: The Blessing of Peace
[32:59] - Crossing the Jordan River
[33:23] - The Battle of Jericho
[33:46] - God's Unique Strategy
[34:06] - The Sin of Achan
[34:43] - Israel's Defeat at Ai
[34:56] - Joshua's Despair
[35:28] - God's Instructions to Joshua
[35:52] - The Importance of Obedience
[36:26] - The Consequences of Sin
[37:13] - The Root Cause of Defeat
[38:05] - The Human Tendency to Blame
[39:26] - The Need for Self-Examination
[41:13] - God's Faithfulness and Guidance
[59:51] - Preparing for the Lord's Supper

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. Joshua 7:1-26
2. Numbers 14:1-4
3. 1 Corinthians 11:27-28

### Observation Questions
1. What specific sin did Achan commit that led to Israel's defeat at Ai? ([36:52])
2. How did Joshua initially react to the defeat at Ai, and what was God's response to him? ([43:38])
3. What process did Joshua follow to identify Achan as the one who sinned? ([53:14])
4. What was the consequence for Achan and his family after his sin was revealed? ([40:25])

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did Achan's sin have such a significant impact on the entire community of Israel? ([51:03])
2. How does Joshua's reaction to the defeat at Ai reflect a common human tendency when facing failure? ([47:33])
3. What does the thorough and public process of identifying Achan's sin teach us about dealing with hidden sins? ([54:15])
4. How does the story of Achan illustrate the importance of personal responsibility and transparency in our spiritual lives? ([56:13])

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a setback or failure. Did you initially blame external circumstances or others? How can you shift your focus to self-examination and personal responsibility? ([48:35])
2. Achan's hidden sin had far-reaching consequences. Are there any hidden sins in your life that you need to confess and address? How can you take steps towards transparency and repentance? ([54:48])
3. Joshua's initial reaction was to question God. How can you cultivate a habit of seeking God's guidance before making decisions, especially in challenging situations? ([43:38])
4. The process of identifying Achan's sin was public and thorough. How can you create an environment of accountability and honesty within your small group or community? ([54:15])
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of self-examination, especially during communion. How can you incorporate regular self-examination into your spiritual practices? ([59:51])
6. God's faithfulness and guidance were evident even after Israel's failure. How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness in your life, especially during difficult times? ([50:00])
7. The story of Achan shows that our actions can impact others. How can you be more mindful of how your actions and decisions affect your community and loved ones? ([51:33])

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Obedience
Obedience to God's commands is crucial for spiritual success. The story of Israel's victory at Jericho and subsequent defeat at Ai highlights the importance of following God's specific instructions. At Jericho, the Israelites experienced a miraculous victory because they adhered to God's unique strategy. However, Achan's disobedience at Ai, where he took items devoted to God, led to a devastating defeat. This teaches us that our spiritual journey's success is directly tied to our obedience to God's word. We must prioritize God's commands over our desires to experience His favor and blessings. [35:52]

Joshua 1:7-8 (ESV): "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Reflection: What specific command or instruction from God have you been neglecting or struggling to obey? How can you take a concrete step today to align your actions with His will?


Day 2: The Consequences of Hidden Sin
Achan's sin, though committed in secret, had public and devastating consequences for the entire nation of Israel. This narrative illustrates that no sin is truly hidden from God and that our actions can impact others. Achan's disobedience led to Israel's defeat at Ai because God's favor was withdrawn. The process of identifying and dealing with Achan's sin was public and thorough, emphasizing the need for confession and repentance to restore God's favor. This story serves as a sobering reminder that our hidden sins can have far-reaching consequences and must be dealt with openly and honestly. [54:48]

Numbers 32:23 (ESV): "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out."

Reflection: Is there a hidden sin in your life that you need to confess and repent of? How can you take steps today to bring it into the light and seek God's forgiveness?


Day 3: Embracing Personal Responsibility
Joshua's initial reaction to the defeat at Ai was to question God, similar to the Israelites' complaints in the wilderness. This highlights the human tendency to blame external factors rather than examining our own hearts. True spiritual growth requires us to take personal responsibility for our actions and seek God's guidance. When God revealed that the defeat was due to sin within the camp, Joshua had to address the root cause—Achan's sin. This teaches us the importance of self-examination and taking responsibility for our actions to align ourselves with God's will. [47:33]

Lamentations 3:40 (ESV): "Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!"

Reflection: Think of a recent failure or setback in your life. Instead of blaming external circumstances, how can you take personal responsibility and seek God's guidance to address the root cause?


Day 4: The Importance of Self-Examination
The process of identifying Achan's sin was thorough and public, emphasizing the need for self-examination and transparency. As believers, we are called to regularly examine our hearts, especially during times of communion, to ensure we are living in alignment with God's will. Hidden sins can hinder our relationship with God and affect the entire community. By practicing self-examination and transparency, we can maintain a healthy spiritual life and restore God's favor. This practice is essential for personal growth and communal harmony. [59:51]

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

Reflection: As you prepare for communion or a time of worship, take a moment to examine your heart. Are there any areas of your life that need to be brought into alignment with God's will? How can you practice transparency and confession today?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Faithfulness and Guidance
Despite Israel's failure, God remained faithful and provided a way to address the sin and restore His favor. This reassures us that God is always ready to guide us back to the right path if we are willing to listen and obey. Our victories come from His strength, not our own. Even when we falter, God's faithfulness and guidance are constant. He is always ready to help us overcome our failures and lead us to success. Trusting in His faithfulness and seeking His guidance is essential for a victorious spiritual journey. [50:00]

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust in God's faithfulness and seek His guidance? How can you actively listen for His direction and follow His lead today?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We start to get back to that same idea, don't we? That we appreciate rest more than we do following the commands of God. We want things to be easy. We want things to be smooth. And sometimes the path that God has laid out for us is not easy and it's not smooth. And it's gonna take effort on our part." [42:38] (15 seconds) ( | | )

2. "It doesn't matter what we think about what God says. It's what God says. It doesn't matter if it makes sense. It's what God says. It doesn't matter if we like it. It's what God says. And we have to, we have to understand and appreciate this truth in our life, that it really doesn't matter how I feel about it. It's the word of God." [41:13] (18 seconds) ( | | )

3. "When God is with us, we win. When God's not with us, we lose. Don't you think we'd put more of a priority and we'd put more of a focus on knowing and being confident of the fact that God is with us. The fact that we are doing what God has called us to do, that we are following his leading and his guiding." [52:10] (17 seconds) ( | | )

4. "The most God-glorifying thing that you could do in your life is to be honest about what you have done, to be honest about the sin that you've committed. Now that honesty and that glorification of God, it doesn't take away, it doesn't take away the consequence of the sin that he's committed. But what he can do is he can glorify God in that sin that he's committed." [57:12] (20 seconds) ( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "Joshua doesn't go to the Lord. There's no consulting in the Lord of what we're supposed to do or how we're supposed to attack this battle. You see, that happens to all of us in our life. All of us come to the place where we feel like we got it under control. We talked about Joshua a couple of weeks ago. The most dangerous place that we could ever be is the place where we feel like we've got it all together." [39:26] (20 seconds) ( | | )

2. "We start to see how important the commands of God are in our life. Because you see, it doesn't matter what we think about what God says. It's what God says. It doesn't matter if it makes sense. It's what God says. It doesn't matter if we like it. It's what God says. And we have to, we have to understand and appreciate this truth in our life, that it really doesn't matter how I feel about it. It's the word of God." [41:13] (22 seconds) ( | | )

3. "We see that because of the lax approach of Joshua and the children of Israel to this battle, they suffer a great defeat. In this tiny little town, the Vahai sends them packing and they run back home and they say, I don't know what happened. I don't know how we lost. I don't know how this came about, but we gotta fix this." [43:06] (16 seconds) ( | | )

4. "We see that natural human tendency of every single one of us to say, woe is me. I'm the one here who's been put in a bad position. I'm the one who God's picked me up from. I'm the one who's been sticking on. I'm the one who always has the short end of the stick. I'm the one who here is suffering out of something that I didn't do and it's not my fault. And we see even Joshua falling prey to this." [48:05] (22 seconds) ( | | )

5. "We get to a point where God says, we can fix this problem if you're ready to fix it. But would we rather talk about it and complain about it or would we rather fix it? He says, let's deal with the issue that's here. And here's exactly the way that I want you to deal with that issue." [50:33] (15 seconds) ( | | )

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Transcript
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