Grafted In, or Out on a Limb, Joshua 7:1-5

Joshua 7:1

But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.

Have you ever watched a movie that opens with a crime being committed right before your very eyes, and then, the rest of the show is spent trying to solve the mystery?

This is like that.

To solve any mystery, the first thing to do is gather information; so, let’s look at the original text, and the context, of that first verse.

Ø trespass: maal (mah'-al); unfaithful.

Ø accursed: cherem (khay'-rem); devoted, set apart, reserved, earmarked, for a set purpose.

Ø Achan: (aw-kawn); trouble.

Using those definitions we could say something like this: Israel was unfaithful regarding the devoted things Achan took, and the Lord was flaming furious.

What are the “accursed things”? What are they devoted, set apart, reserved, earmarked, for?

Most things were set for utter destruction, to be burned (6:18).

But not everything.

The precious metals, (silver, gold, bronze, iron; 6:24), were set apart, to be put into the house of the Lord.

If only Achan would’ve just been patient, put God first, he’d have had all the loot and bounty he wanted. Jericho was the first city in the Promise Land, the first fruit, like the tithe, is set apart, reserved, devoted, to the Lord’s house; after that, they keep the rest. The very next city they conquer, they’re told to keep the spoils for themselves. (Joshua 8:2).

Additionally, Rahab and her household were reserved unto salvation.

Rahab was from the wicked city of Jericho, doomed for utter destruction. She lived among a wicked people, and worked a wicked career.

Yet, by faith, she received as Lord, the God of heaven and earth, and was saved. Not only that, but was grafted into the royal lineage of king David, and the ancestry of Christ. She became great, great, grandmother to king David. She’s remembered and honored, in the Faith Hall of Fame. Hebrews 11:31.

Achan, on the other hand, was born into the royal line of the tribe of Judah, the lineage of Christ.

Yet, he caused his entire family and nation to be under the same curse as Jericho. They were all cherem (khay'-rem), doomed, set apart, reserved, earmarked, for utter destruction; until he and all his household were stoned and burned and buried, in a heap of rock and ashes... just like Jericho.

Joshua 7:2-5 

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth  Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

Do you notice something different?

Up to this point, God would tell Joshua what to do, Joshua would tell the people, and the people would follow through. And everything went great.

However, this time, it just says, Joshua sent men from Jericho.

It doesn’t say he prayed. There’s no mention of God’s instruction. No participation from priests carrying the ark, into the Jordan. No ram’s horns blowing. No seven days of marching. No stopping for an offering. No pause to praise.

Joshua sent. They went. They tried to ride the momentum, of Jericho to another city, another battle.

But that’s not how it works.

Memories can encourage, but cannot carry.

The Lord’s prayer says, “Give us this day, our daily bread…” (Matthew 6:11). 

Thy Word is a lamp, unto our feet, a light unto our path, (Psalm 119:105). Not a flood light that shines the end from the beginning; but one day, one step, at a time.

You Can’t Ride Yesterday’s Victory Into Today’s Battle.

Jesus said, in the garden, as He preprayered for the cross, pray that you enter not into temptation Matthew 26:41.

They didn’t.

Joshua sent. They went.

The next thing you know, the spies come swaggering back with a cock-eyed grin, “No worries, we got this.”

So, they saunter up to the little city; chests puffed, heads swelled.

But before you can smile and say, “They’ve got this”, they’re running back, heads down, tails tucked, screaming “We ain’t got this!” …and, three dozen of their men are dead.

Like Sampson, they didn’t know the Lord was no longer with them.

Like Peter walking on water, as long as his eyes were on Jesus, but the moment he looked away—bam—he swam, like a rock.   

Like fools, rushing in where angels fear to tread.

Quote inspired by: Dessie Johnson

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

They went up all fat and sassy, and we know pride comes before a fall, (Proverbs 16:18).

Their arrogance, their failing to seek God first, was the reason for their blindness, the reason why they went when they shouldn’t have.

However, that’s not the reason why they lost. They lost because the Lord wasn’t with them.

But why wasn’t He?

They still don’t know why everything went wrong.

But they’re fixin’ to find out.

And so are we…

Lord willing, next time we meet.

GO WITH GOD, OR DON’T GO AT ALL

Let’s pray,

Lord, thank You, for Your promise to never leave us, never forsake us. In Your presence, is peace, safety and joy. Help us to, intentionally, keep You in the forefront of our thoughts; so, every word, every step, every breath, honors You. We love You, thank You, praise You. Amen.

Remember, we love you.

Most importantly,

Jesus loves you.