A ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OR A ROBE OF BABYLON
The Book of Joshua #9
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
(Joshua 7:6-12 NLT) “Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the LORD until evening. Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign LORD, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?” But the LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.”
Did Joshua and Israel become overly confident?
(Joshua 7:2-3 NLT) “Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven. When they returned, they told Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so few of them, don’t make all our people struggle to go up there.”
Do you ever ask where is God?
(Joshua 7:7 NLT) “Oh, Sovereign LORD, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us?”
Joshua is saying that what has happened to Israel is embarrassment to Israel and to God.
(Joshua 7:9 NLT) “For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?”
God says to Joshua, “Get up. Israel has sinned.”
(Joshua 7:11 NLT) “Israel has sinned and broken my covenant!”
(Joshua 7:1 NLT) “But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.”
(Joshua 7:20-21 NLT) “Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.”
What is set apart for God?
a. Life, Revenge, Marriage, Church, First Fruits
What makes my sin more dangerous?
b. Hiding it.
(Matthew 15:19-20) “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”
c. God forgives completely.
(Joshua 7:26-8:1, NLT) “The LORD was no longer angry. Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
GROWTHWORK
1. My responsibility affects the community.
See Corinthians 12:12-27 and Ephesians 2:19
2. Build trust with one another.
(James 5:16, NLT) “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
3. Be honest with one another and yourself.
(Ephesians 4:15 NLT) “We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”
4. Encourage one another.
(Hebrews 3:13 NIV) “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
a. Do what God says.
b. Be responsible.
c. Address irresponsibility.
5. Remember God forgives completely.
(Micah 7:18-20 NLT) “Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.”