One Man One Message

But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

Notice the unfaithfulness to Gods covenant words. What God said was not done. Israel went to fight the battle in previous chapter against a city known as Jericho; however, God had told the people that certain things were not to be kept or treasured from this city. Specific instructions were given concerning the city of Jericho. God had reasons concerning this city both for its destruction and the consecration of all inside to himself. If we consider the Scriptural examples of the destruction of Soddom and Gomorrah, we will see these are the only other two types of this kind of total consecration and destruction seen in the Scripture. God does not explain his reasons yet. Such instructions and the reasons behind them required believing by faith.

And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.

Here we see disobedience and a lack of seeking God. Joshua depended on human flesh to give a good report. Just as the Lord had said before, Joshua sent out spies to see the new city to be conquered. However, this time Joshua commanded them and not the Lord. The spies were sent and brought back a report of human wisdom. He relied on unwise spies and a multitude of council without the Lords advice. Thus, only part of those people who should have gone up against the city went while the rest remained.

So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they

fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

We see a remarkable defeat that would not have occurred here had the words of Zachariah 4:7 been heeded: Not by might or by power but by my Spirit says the Lord. The people of Israel were overconfident in themselves. What happened at Ai was a direct reversal of the Lords promise to Joshua to be with him wherever he went. However, Gods promise was conditional upon Joshuas obedience. Note that one mans sin ruined the entire nation. Whenever you think that what you do has no effect upon anyone even if it is hidden, rest assured that everyone will know. Something is wrong in the camp. Only the Spirit of God can reveal what has been done. Believe me, God knows what things were taken, what house they were taken to, who taught that person to take them, and where they were hidden. These are only things. Taking them should not seem like such a big deal. Yes, Joshua, the leader, could not move the people forward in victory as he wanted to do. Had this issue not been sorted, the people of Israel could have been turned around right there by these giants who saw them as nothing but grasshoppers since the Lord was no longer with them.

And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark

of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon

their heads. 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!

The proper response was that of seeking God. The fear of the Lord in Proverbs 9:10 became for them the beginning of wisdom. God responds to those who diligently seek him and rewards them according to Hebrews 11:6. Thus, Joshua found the answer he sought. What was the reason for God treating them thus? One profound answer is that the peoples disobedience became the leaders disobedience. Just as Joshua served Moses and thus became Gods, so the people agreed to serve God through Joshua. We see that their disobedience affected the leader. This is a principle of spiritual responsibility. You were responsible for what you lead. Look closely at how they obtained the promise despite the setback. What caused the people to inherit the promise of Gods continued presence was their unwillingness to remain on the other side of the Jordan in sight of the promised land. They did not want to live out another generation in sight of Gods promise unable to obtain it because of inaction and unbelief. So, they knelt before him right there, refusing to go a step further without him.

And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

And would you believe, the God of all creation unbent himself for them by allowing the leaders to address the root of the issue that kept them from kingdom advancement. Undoing a national sin required showing both God and the people that what happened was not the leaders responsibility. So, the one responsible for the defeat and departure of the presence of God from the people was found and asked to account for what he had done. Since one mans sin affected them all, only the one man was judged for his sin to set the matter right.