Joshua 7 Setback

Opening

Joshua 7 Setback Handout

Main Body

Preparations (V. 2-3)

• Compare Joshua 3:5, 5:3, 5:13, 6:2 with 7:2-3. Contrast the preparations the Israelites made for the conquest of Ai to the preparations they had made for other battles.

• Other than God, what sources do people often turn to to seek advice or make plans?

Defeat (V. 4-9)

• How does the battle go according to verses 4 and 5?

• How does Joshua respond in verse 6?

• What question does Joshua as in verses 7? How do these questions compare with the questions in Numbers 14:2-3?

• • Joshua seemed to blame God for the defeat and did not even consider that the cause might have been elsewhere. In his first question he even adopted the thinking of the spies against whom he had so vehemently protested at Kadesh (cf. Num. 14:2–3).

• What question does Joshua ask in verse 8?

• • The question of God's reputation is an important question. However, given Joshua's previous questions this feels like it is more of an attempt to manipulate God. Instead of blaming god, Joshua should have asked what they were doing wrong, and even started by apologizing for not asking God before acting.

Standards (V. 10-15)

• How does God respond to Joshua's poor response in verse 10?

• According to God, why had Israel lost? (V. 11-18)

• In verse 13, God gives Joshua a general command. What is that command?

• • Sanctify yourselves

• When we mess up, what is the general command?

• • The first step in fixing sin is to sanctify oneself. I think too often we focus on making restitution. Our first priority is our relationship to God. We must first ask God to restore us before we try to deal with the physical consequences of sin.

• According to verses 14 and 15, what was Israel to do about the sin?

• What process does Joshua use to identify the one who sinned in verses 16-18?

• Here is a thought experiment. Do you suppose that the consequences would have been different had Chan come forward?

Dealing With Sin (V. 19-26)

• What four step process to sin does Achan highlight in verses 19-21?
  • I saw
  • I coveted
  • I took
  • I concealed

• How does Israel handle the admission in verses22-24?

• What are the consequences of the sin in verses 25-26?

• What memorial is erected in verse 26?

Conclusion

• What are examples of seemingly hard and easy battles that Christians face today?

• Does your personal prayer life demonstrate that you turn to God in both the easy and hard battles?