Joshua 7:1--8:29 Sin’s Devastating Effect on our Ability to Fight Spiritual Battles

Joshua 7--8:29 could easily be broken into two or three messages united by the thought of what God does (or doesn’t do?) when His people sin against Him. After a spectacular victory comes a stunning defeat. What happened? Where was God?!? 7:12 presents a clear reason for spiritual weakness: “Therefore [due to Israel’s sin] the people...cannot stand before their enemies....I will be with you no more, unless...” Notice that one man is responsible for the defeat of the entire nation (cf. Romans 5:12-14; 1 Corinthians 5:6; 12:12-14). God is very gracious to His people to expose the sin and the sinner. This story, however, is not just about one man being responsible for spiritual defeat. It’s also about one Man being responsible for spiritual victory for all who believe. Our Savior is pictured in a couple of ways: (1) Achan was from the tribe of Judah, the tribe from whom our Lord would emerge; (2) Jesus’ crucifixion and becoming a curse for us is seen in the way in which the king of Ai was executed (cf. 8:29). By faith Christians confess their sin and receive forgiveness and cleansing (cf. 1 John 1:9).