Pastor's corner

Joshua 6 records the conquest of Jericho, which teaches the major theme that in the interval between our glorification in Heaven and the time that we receive Christ there stands a holy war. In Joshua 6 Israel learned the lesson that the Lord, not their human effort or skills, produces the victories. Jericho was an obstacle, but the Lord removed it to prove the battle is the Lord's. In Joshua chapter 7 we note the terrible failure and defeat of Israel at Ai. The reason they failed was due to unconfessed sin in their camp and the fact that Joshua did not seek the Lord’s will before he went into battle.

Joshua reasoned since Jericho had fallen, then the much smaller Ai would not be a problem.

He did not ask the Lord how to approach the battle and therefore suffered a great defeat (Joshua 7:3-4).

Joshua was crushed and prayed all day for the Lord to answer him.

At the end of the day (Joshua 7:10) the Lord spoke to him and revealed the sin of Achan.

Achan had violated God’s will by stealing some gold, silver and a Babylonian robe.

The Babylonian robe was engraved with the false gods of Babylon and this offended the Lord.

Eventually through a process of consecration (spiritual cleansing) and bringing each tribe, family and household to stand before Joshua, the culprit was discovered.

Afterward Achan and all his family were stoned to death, then burned.

Once everything was right again, the Lord gave Joshua a new plan of attack and Ai was conquered.

There are many lessons we can learn from this Biblical account. If we are to honor our God and remain inside His will, then we are forced and compelled to head straight to the obstacles in our lives and stop there. We may have suffered a defeat and retreated from the problem. We don’t know how to deal with it. This is known as a critical point of faith. It occurs when we come dead center and just have to stop; there is no escaping the problem or obstacle. What are we to do?

God puts His believers in these situations from time to time to test our faith. Two questions arise: Will God do it for me; and secondly, can He do it for me? We know God is Omnipotent and can do all things compatible with His righteousness and justice, but will He help me at this point in my life? The proof that you KNOW the Lord will help you is gauged by your decisions.

While waiting on the Lord for help, are you still confessing your sins (1 John 1:9)? Are you Faith Resting by claiming the promises found in the Bible? Are you focused upon Christ more than the problem? Which is more real to you at this time, Christ or the obstacle? Are you continuing to study the Bible and living in the absolutes of the Word of God? These are the decisions that show you have put your trust in the Lord and are not hiding any sin. When the Lord thinks you are ready, He will remove the obstacle or test.

In the Church Age the same principle we found in Joshua is noted in the church (1 Corinthians 5:1-7). The secret life and unconfessed sin of one believer does affect others, especially if they know about it and will not address it. No believer is an island. Christians live and fight the enemy together. We are responsible to support and pray for one another, correct one another and encourage one another. American churches are facing a critical point of faith and must deal with sin Biblically in order to be in fellowship with the Lord and have any hope of influencing society for Christ.

Ron McMurray,

Sheriff's Chaplain