Bible Study Helps: Joshua 7-9, and aftermath

Review:

1.     Joshua is leading the nation of Israel to TOTALLY conquer the ethnic groups (tribes) that live in “the promised land.”

The destruction of these groups has troubled modern Christians for many years. “The conquest served as God’s judgment on the Canaanite peoples, who were particularly wicked and whose sins dated back centuries to the time of the patriarchs. The conquest was a unique, one-time endeavor that …was not to be repeated.  The conquest was not targeted toward these people because of their ethnicity but because of their moral corruption.” The major city-states were the ones to be conquered and destroyed, and smaller groups were to be driven out. The issue is that the land had to be totally free of this influence or Israel would have trouble going forward. Since Israel didn’t  fully complete the task, they were always influenced back to pagan worship (example, Gibeonites).

2.     Rahab – is a marvelous picture of grace but also her story troubles some people. She is saved by her faith (Hebrews 11), but she lies! Quite well, actually, because the leaders of Jericho trust her (she’s not some common prostitute in this record). How can she be saved by faith but it includes lying?

3.     She is recorded in Matthew as marrying Salmon and being the mother (or perhaps grandmother) of Boaz, Ruth’s second husband, and thus the ancestor of Jesus, even though she was not an Israelite. There are at least four non-Israelite women in the line of Christ.

 

Lesson: Read 7-8:2

 

There are four mistakes made in this story.

1.     Joshua doesn’t consult God. 7:2-4  “We can do this by ourselves, on our own.” “Joshua didn’t know what he didn’t know.” Ai should have been easy pickings after Jericho.

2.     Joshua blames God. “It’s God’s fault.” 7:6-9

3.     Achan sins not individually, but for everyone. “Why is everyone involved?” 7:10-15

a.      They were not to take booty like pirates. They are a different type of people.

b.     The gold and silver was consecrated, not individual. Notice how his identity is tied to his ancestors back to Judah.

c.      Achan thought he could hide and doesn’t confess until he’s caught.

d.      The obedience was to be complete, not partial.

4.     Thinking sin is a small thing and doesn’t matter. “What’s the big deal?” 7:25-26.

 

Where does this affect us?

 

1.     We are not alone, but we are responsible. We are a people, not a person. I Peter 2:4-9

2.     Obedience should be complete. House fable.

Watch how you see God and how that vision affects you. God is not to be blamed for your mistakes.