Theological Proposition/Focus: God is a God who is in the process of redeeming that which is broken.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: God offers second chances and victory. He simply wants His people to come to Him.

Introduction:

Image: No Recovery - Drew Bledsoe injured, Tom Brady takes over

In March of 2001 Drew Bledsoe signed a then-record ten-year 103 million dollar contract with the New England Patriots.

During week 2 of the 2001 season a clean but hard hit knocked Bledsoe out with a suspected concussion

The injury was actually a much longer lasting hemothorax that benched Bledsoe for the entire season.

So imagine the devastation of learning that your franchise record-pay quarterback is out.

Bledsoe's backup was only in his second year, had only thrown three career passes, and was a pitiful sixth round pick

But that didn't stop Tom Brady from leading the Patriots to an 11-3 season and their first Super Bowl

Sometimes in the midst of defeat victory is unimaginable. However, that does not mean victory is unatainable.

Need: God offers second chances and victory. We need to draw to Him and take His second, third,..., chances.

Preview: In Joshua 8 we are going to see that God offers restoration, desires each and every one of us, works through us in obvious and not-so-obvious ways, is faithful to complete his promises, and provides us with words worth remembering.

Text:.

Setting the Stage:

Jericho had been defeated.

But Achen's sin had brought defeat.

Body

God is a God of Reassurance and Restoration (1-2)

God reassures his provision.

Failure is part of life. We have within us a sin nature and while sin has been defeated at the cross, that defeat has still to be fully realized in each of us. Coming off of Achen's sin and the first defeat at Ai, I imagine Israel felt defeated and dejected. However, God was still in control and God forgives. Two commands stand out to me in verse 1.

Do not be afraid.

Do not be discouraged.

It is striking that these are the same word that had been used in Joshua 1:9.

What we must realize if we are to live as Christ followers is that yes we do sin, but we serve a God who completely restores.

God completely restores.

Verse 1 concludes with a Qal perfect, I have given

The idea here is that this is a done deal. As far as God was concerned the battle was over. Joshua was going to see Ai overthrown just as Jericho had been overthrown.

The only real difference between Ai and Jericho would be that Israel was allowed the plunder.

The Gospel provides assurance and restoration.

There are times when we think of the God of the Old Testament as different than the God of the New Testament. This simply is not the case. The Good News of the Gospel is that God provides restoration. No matter who you are, no matter what you have done, God can forgive you.

But it is even better than that. You see, if you are alive and breathing then the question is not "if you will sin again?" the question is "when will you sin again?" You might sin and believe that what you have done is so bad that God wants nothing to do with you. I want to assure you today that the blood of Jesus cleanses, covers, sin. If you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior then nothing you can do can separate you from the love of Christ.

Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus rose on the grave to give assurance of his victory over sin. Following Christ is actually very simple to become a Christ follower you simply place your full trust in Christ's atoning death as payment for your sin.

Image: Restoring a wall, the Hidden Burger King in Delaware

Christ's cover for our sin is amazing. On June 28 a twitter photo was shared from a mall in Wilmington Delaware. The photo showed what looked like a vintage burger king from the 80s. In the process of restoration construction, this old Burger King had apparently been entombed. It is possible to completely restore that which is otherwise damaged and that is exactly what Christ offers us.

MTR: Ask yourself, where do I need God's restoration and reassurance?

God does not need us all but he wants us all (3-9)

Joshua took the whole army

Previously, in confidence, Joshua had only sent out a small force. Now Joshua elects to involve everyone. I want you to understand

God did not need the whole army to defeat Ai.

Rather, God used the whole army.

Today we had the opportunity to hear about a service opportunity with ISF, we have a number of service opportunities here in our church, there are service opportunities around the city, and around the world. I want you to understand that God does not need you to serve, He wants you to serve.

Why does this matter? Because in reality, It is better to be wanted than needed.

But sometimes we get ourselves into this arrogant attitude of I will only serve if I am needed. Don't fall for that, it is better to be wanted than needed, and God wants you for His service! Beyond the fact that the whole army participated, I also see that

Different people had different jobs

One group of people serve as a decoy force, while another group serve in the role of a special forces strike team. There is again a numbers issue.

Remember that the Hebrew word אלף in שׁלשׁים could be translated as 30 clans of men.

If this is the case then Joshua is assigning thirty elite units to act as the strike force.

Why did God have different jobs for different people?

More than just a good strategy, gives people individual value.

I want you to understand that God created us individually and gave us particular gifts. He has placed us individually in the church to use those gifts. When I say that God does not need us all, I don't mean that the church does not need you to serve. What I mean is that God wants you to serve and so he has placed you within the church to fill a specific need.

Image: Truck Numbers

In organizations, one of the terms that is discussed is the so-called truck number. It is morbid, but the idea is how many people can be hit by a truck before the organization cannot continue. I am convinced that a healthy church has a high truck number, not because nobody is doing anything, but because everybody is serving.

MTR: Commit to loyally answering God's call.

God's works are at times obvious but at other times done through His people (10-19).

Image: As a child, I worried I would get bored in eternity.

No really, I will admit it. I remember the lyrics

"when we've been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun, we've no less day to sing God's praise Than when we first begun."

I used to think "oh boy! That is a whole lot of time." Now, as I am older and have more experience with God I don't believe I am going to get bored. It seems that God also likes variety and does not always do the same things the same way.

God's works were clear in Jericho.

God brought the walls down in one of the most epic victories in history.

In Ai, God chose to work through His People.

Three separate teams: strike team, diversionary team, and secondary ambush to prevent reinforcement from Bethel.

Verse 18 reminds us that God was still the one working.

Notice that the weapon in Joshua's hand is not used in physical battle but held out to God.

MTR: Look for how God is working through His people.

God is faithful to complete what he has started (20-29).

After Achan's sin, I am confident many were discouraged. We know that Joshua questioned entering the land, and I argued last week that he really was blaming God. Now in Ai we see that

God provided a complete victory.

Five pieces of evidence show that God granted complete victory.

The king of Ai was captured v. 23

The army was defeated completely v. 24

The clans within the city were killed v. 24-25.

The city was burned v. 28.

The king was killed v. 29.

The city was plundered

Recall that in Jericho the plunder was off limits. Here the plunder is available. Something that amazes me about God is that he does in fact share.

So let me now turn this passage to us. I want you to know that

God has started working on us (Phil. 1:6)

The Greek πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο (I have been persuaded of this) is a Greek perfect tense.

This means that Paul had earlier come to the realization, persuasion and that persuasion had ongoing effects in the present. Paul's persuasion was that the God who had begun working would bring it to completion.

What is that work? Salvation!

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, and placed your faith in his death as payment for your sins and resurrection as a promise of your eternal future, then you can be confident that God will bring your salvation to complete fulfillment. What does that look like? Sin has been defeated and one God will perfectly sanctify you never again to have to deal with sin.

MTR: Ask yourself, what does it mean to know that God has started to change my heart?

God's words are worth recounting (30-35).

Joshua led the people in covenant renewal.

Defeating Ai essentially opened up the region for Joshua to begin a major military campaign. The foothold had been established and a military leader would likely have thought it appropriate to push the advantage and secure the entire central region. However, Joshua did something different.

The Significance

In Deuteronomy 27:1-8 Moses commanded Israel to perform a covenant renewal ceremony on Mt. Ebal upon entering the land.

With the entryway cities in ruin Israel could now perform this important ceremony.

The march from the camp at Gilgal northward would have been about 30 miles through sparsely populated areas.

Why here? because from these centrally located peaks most of the promised land can be seen.

The Process

The alter was erected

Sacrifices made

The law duplicated

Joshua led the people in corporate reading of the Law.

A huge natural amphitheater still exists in this place today.

The reading, as described/commanded in Deut. 27:15-26 would have included going over all the curses.

Verse 34 indicates that Joshua covered both blessings and curses.

MTR: Commit to reading your Bible daily this week (5 min., 10 min. 30 min. 60 min.)

Joshua 8: Snatching Victory from the Depths of Defeat

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