Josh 6:2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
*The city of Jericho has been destroyed >
The inhabitants of Canaan were neither ignorant nor innocent victims. They knew of the true and living God, yet they rejected Him and His forgiveness, so they were judged by God.
Josh 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD. (set apart / dedicated)
**Accursed = being under a curse – doomed
Josh 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, (A-Kin)...took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
*Achan stole a Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight & hid them in his tent.
Why were these things accursed? The silver & gold belonged to the Lord. (Josh. 6:19) & anything taken from Jericho became sin because the Lord clearly forbade it.
Josh 7:2 - 6 Joshua sent men to view the country of Ai & the men returned saying, just let two or three thousand men go up for the enemy is few.
So about 3,000 men went up against Ai & they were defeated & fled!
7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
9 *The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall surround us, & destroy us: what will happen to your great name?
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff (put on a false appearance in order to conceal facts, feelings, or intentions)
*They took of what belonged to God, hid it & lied by concealing it & didn’t destroy what God said to destroy.
Josh 7:12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
*If we hold onto things that are displeasing to God, whether it be sinful acts or sinful feelings, we cannot stand against the enemy. He goes about seeking someone to destroy. (1 Pet. 5:8) We cannot hide anything from God... he knows our feelings, our thoughts & sees our actions!
Num 32:23 ...be sure your sin will find you out. / Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
**Sin will ultimately bring forth death!
[Josh 7:24 -26 Achan & his family is destroyed]
*If we have fallen from grace, we have an advocate in Jesus, & he is faithful to forgive a truly repentant heart. >
1 John 2:1 ...if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins
*Because God is merciful & just...after they do right, the curse is lifted >
Josh 8:1 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
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