~Sin in the Camp~ (Part 1)

So Achan answered Joshua and said, "Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel , and this is what I did: [JOSHUA 7:20 ] [NAS]

When there is sin in the camp (in your life), you cannot fight and win the battles that God has prepared you for. Just as in the days of Joshua. Joshua was commissioned to take over the leadership from Moses after his death. Joshua’s first act of courage was to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land by way of the Jordan River .

I have read the entire book of Joshua and I cannot find any place in the Bible that Joshua sinned or turned away from God. Just as Moses did, Joshua did what God spoke to him. Because of Joshua’s loyalty, God made him a promise in Joshua 1:5 and it reads, "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. [JOSHUA 1:5] [NAS] How would you like to have this promise? Well, you have it in the salvation of Jesus Christ! If you will keep His commandments, you will have all the promises of God as He says in the Gospel of John. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. [JOHN 15:10] [NAS]

As we have seen in Joshua 1:5, God was with Joshua and no man would be able to stand before him all the days of his life. But in the battle of Ai , Israel was defeated. What happened?

10 So the LORD said to Joshua, "Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?

11 " Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things.

12 "Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst. [JOSHUA 7:10-12] [NAS]

Will be continued tomorrow, see “Sin in the Camp,” part II

Brother Dewey E. Fox