From Pride to Pain
Joshua 6:17-7:26
- Achan means troubler or pain
- Achor means pain or trouble
I. Success can be fatal
a. Blessings
i. The walls fell down 6:20
ii. The people went up straight before them 6:20
iii. The goal is accomplished by the blessing and power of God 6:21
iv. Rahab and all she had is saved 6:23
v. Joshua is greatly blessed 6:27
1. God is with him
2. His fame is noised abroad
vi. Notice they sin in the time of greatest blessing not just times of discouragement
vii. Our success breeds pride that will bring humiliation when we trust in ourselves 7:5-7
b. Failures
i. Achan takes for himself 7:21
1. God wants Christians to be content with material possessions
2. God never wants us to be content in our spiritual life
3. Love for God or love for gold
ii. Joshua moves without asking God for direction 7:2
iii. The people are overconfident 7:3
1. They trust their own judgment
2. They take for granted the power of God
iv. 36 men of war die 7:5
v. Joshua is discouraged and wishes that he had never started out 7:7
1. Their failure is God’s fault
2. Failed to look at themselves
3. More concerned about Israel’s name than God’s name 7:9
II. Sin is disobeying God’s will or commands
a. Clear instructions are given 6:18
b. God decides that He wants all the silver, gold, brass, and iron—other times he will allow them to take for themselves 8:2
c. God wants all utterly destroyed 6:18-19
d. The sin of the accursed thing
i. God wanted it dedicated to Him
ii. God wanted the first bounty
III. Sin affects all those around us
a. Israel must fight alone until they get right 7:12
b. Achan, his wife and children and even animals must die 7:24
c. Israel pays the price—36 men 7:5
d. Joshua is embarrassed 7:6-7
e. Valley of Achor 7:26
