05/20/2008 Reveal to me my sins
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May 20, 2008, 10:15:02 AM5/20/08
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S. 1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the
accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi,[a] the
son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so
the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven,
on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy
out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they
returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up,
but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not
weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” 4 So about
three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before
the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men,
for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and
struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people
melted and became like water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face
before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel;
and they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD,
why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us
into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been
content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what
shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? 9 For the
Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and
surround us, and cut off our name from the earth.Then what will You do
for Your great name?”
10 So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your
face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My
covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the
accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also
put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel
could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before
their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither
will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among
you.
O. How quickly did Joshua run to God when he had troubles! Sometimes
we don't understand why it seems that God has placed these troubles
before us. Once Joshua saw the defeat of the men at Ai, he quickly
fell down before the face of God and mourned, seeking God's answer. He
prayed all day, until the evening, asking God why this horrible thing
had happened. I think, that sometimes we run into a situation and we
push forward, thinking we have God's blessing, when in reality we have
sinned, and fallen out of God's will. When we fall, how quick are we
to blame God, when in reality it is our sin that has kept us from the
blessings God has promised to us. Joshua didn't know about Israel's
sin until he earnestly sought after God's wisdom, praying all day.
Finally when God told him that Israel had sinned, (and what a perfect
picture of the rift placed between us and God when we sin) because God
told Joshua, "Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy
the accursed from among you." When we sin we create a rift between us
and God, not because he doesn't want to be with us, but because His
holy nature CANNOT be with us.
A. When I believe myself to be right with God, and I fail, I need to
seek God's face until my sin is revealed. I suppose it is possible
there is sin in my life that I do not know about, but the instant that
God reveals it to me, I need to "destroy the accursed" from among me,
and rebuke myself and repent of my sin, because only then can I
restore the fellowship I have with God.
P. Lord, show me where I have sin in my life, much as Joshua asked you
why he failed. If I am in sin, please reveal it to me so that I may
cut it off and let it die, that way I can renew the fellowship I have
with you and walk in your blessing. Thank you for being holy, a
standard that I can never achieve of my own righteousness, so that I
can lean solely on you to make me right.
accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi,[a] the
son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so
the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven,
on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy
out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they
returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up,
but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not
weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” 4 So about
three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before
the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men,
for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and
struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people
melted and became like water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face
before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel;
and they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD,
why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us
into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been
content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what
shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? 9 For the
Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and
surround us, and cut off our name from the earth.Then what will You do
for Your great name?”
10 So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your
face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My
covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the
accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also
put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel
could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before
their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither
will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among
you.
O. How quickly did Joshua run to God when he had troubles! Sometimes
we don't understand why it seems that God has placed these troubles
before us. Once Joshua saw the defeat of the men at Ai, he quickly
fell down before the face of God and mourned, seeking God's answer. He
prayed all day, until the evening, asking God why this horrible thing
had happened. I think, that sometimes we run into a situation and we
push forward, thinking we have God's blessing, when in reality we have
sinned, and fallen out of God's will. When we fall, how quick are we
to blame God, when in reality it is our sin that has kept us from the
blessings God has promised to us. Joshua didn't know about Israel's
sin until he earnestly sought after God's wisdom, praying all day.
Finally when God told him that Israel had sinned, (and what a perfect
picture of the rift placed between us and God when we sin) because God
told Joshua, "Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy
the accursed from among you." When we sin we create a rift between us
and God, not because he doesn't want to be with us, but because His
holy nature CANNOT be with us.
A. When I believe myself to be right with God, and I fail, I need to
seek God's face until my sin is revealed. I suppose it is possible
there is sin in my life that I do not know about, but the instant that
God reveals it to me, I need to "destroy the accursed" from among me,
and rebuke myself and repent of my sin, because only then can I
restore the fellowship I have with God.
P. Lord, show me where I have sin in my life, much as Joshua asked you
why he failed. If I am in sin, please reveal it to me so that I may
cut it off and let it die, that way I can renew the fellowship I have
with you and walk in your blessing. Thank you for being holy, a
standard that I can never achieve of my own righteousness, so that I
can lean solely on you to make me right.
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