ACE #188: You Win Some, You Lose Some

Joshua, the son of Nun, became the leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses.  His name means, "Yahweh is salvation".  Joshua was appointed by God, specifically, to succeed Moses, but was also the commander in many battles.  Under his direction, many battles were won, but not all of them. 

After the Israelites spied on the people of Ai, they thought they could easily defeat them because Ai was small in number. However, the Israelites were run out of town with about 36 casualties.  As we read in Joshua 7, we find out the reason that the Israelites lost the battle was because Achan, son of Karmi, had deliberately disobeyed God.  He saw the beautiful things around Him and took them.  God specifically told the Israelites not to take any of the "devoted things";  God called them out in their thievery, their lies, and their covetousness.  As a result, he removed his favor from them, which weakened them in battle.  The Israelites also failed to consult with God before the battle. 

How often do we fail to obey God and then get surprised when things don't go our way?  How often de we fail to consult God on major decisions in our lives and our plan fail?  God also told them that there were "devoted things" around them, which included false idols - yet those things had to be removed from their presence if they wanted to secure their victory.  How often do we continue to have things and people around us that have no godly influence and then wonder why we are constantly in a state of turmoil? 

Achan's sin separated him from God.  He had to die for his sin even after he confessed it to Joshua and the Israelites; yet we have assurance that Jesus already died for us so our sins can be forgiven.  Joshua consulted God, obeyed God, and then consecrated everything around him.  And then the Battle at Ai was won!  God delivered the city into the hands of the Israelite army. It also resulted in the renewal of the covenant.

Win your battles through your consultation with the Master, your consecration of the things around you, and your obedience to the Word of God!

Joshua 7

¹⁰ The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. ¹² That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
¹³ “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

Study Link:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+7