Sermon Notes - Joshua 7 - Littleby Baptist Church - September 21, 2025

1.        So far in Joshua we have seen God at work!

a.        At first God was encouraging Joshua when he was not sure what to do.

b.       He told him to be strong and courageous.

c.        To not be afraid.

d.       To not be discouraged.

e.        God helped Joshua prepare to lead the people into the Promised land.

2.        We have seen several times that God was working in the heats of the people in Canaan.

a.        They were already afraid of the Israelites.

b.       They knew that God was going to hand their land over to God’s people.

c.        It was not if, but when.

d.       We read about it when Rahab protected the spies and after the people crossed the Jordan.

3.        Then the whole crossing of the Jordan.

a.        Talk about God at work.

b.       Leading the people there.

c.        Having them consecrate themselves.

d.       Then stopping up the river.

e.        So that the people were able to cross on dry ground.

f.          Man, woman, child, all their animals and possessions.

g.        God worked an amazing miracle.

4.        He got the people to the Promised Land side of the Jordan.

a.        A major step of the journey.

b.       One step closer to the land He is prepared to give them.

c.        Then time is taken to circumcise the guys.

d.       Time to heal.

5.        Then as perfectly as only God can.

a.        It was time for the Passover.

b.       Exactly on schedule.

c.        As no person could arrange it.

d.       God’s timing is perfect.

e.        Reminding us to trust in Him.

f.          Only He could have done something as exact as this over 40 years to the day.

6.        God broke their chain to the past.

a.        Crossing the Jordan, the circumcision, and celebration of the Passover.

b.       The chain to Egypt is gone.

c.        The shame of the past has been erased.

d.       When we give our lives to Jesus.

e.        The tie to the past is gone.

f.          The chain to what held us down is gone.

g.        The shame of our sin is erased.

h.        Because Jesus has set us free.

7.        Then last week, Jesus was there guiding Joshua as God gave the people Jericho.

a.        An elaborate series of events.

b.       That showed God’s power.

c.        Of God handing Jericho to the people as He brought down the wall.

d.       They had to trust in Him.

e.        They had to follow God’s lead.

f.          And everything in Jericho was to be an offering to God, the first fruits of the Promised land.

8.        It is no doubt that God has been with Joshua and the people.

9.        Let’s see how things continue in chapter 7.

10.   Joshua 7:1

a.        As those reading the Bible, we know happened.

b.       Those going through the events did not until much later.

c.        All of those invading Jericho followed God’s command except for one man.

d.       He disobeyed God.

e.        He stole from God.

11.   Joshua 7:2-5

a.        Not knowing that God was angry with Achan and by extension the people of Israel.

b.       Joshua sent a small group of soldiers to Ai.

c.        They lost badly.

d.       The actions of one man.

e.        Resulted in Thirty-six being killed.

12.   Joshua 7:6-9

a.        We might question Joshua’s faith here.

b.       But he was grieving.

c.        He did not know what we know.

d.       A bit of doubt was creeping in.

e.        Something I am sure we all have experienced.

f.          He was hurting.

g.        He was discouraged.

h.        He was afraid.

13.   Joshua 7:10-12

a.        This is happening for a reason.

b.       The people had done wrong.

c.        Stop the grieving.

d.       Prosperity for Israel has been promised.

e.        Joshua 1:8

f.          Problem is you Joshua and your people broke your covenant with me.

g.        Fix it.

h.        Return what has been taken and things will be right again.

14.   We were created to be in communion with God.

a.        To spend forever with our God and King.

b.       Yet we sin.

c.        We hold onto that sin.

d.       We regularly choose that sin over our Jesus.

e.        It is not until we choose Jesus over our sin that our rightful place is restored.

f.          That we are transformed and renewed.

g.        That things are right again.

15.   Joshua 7:13

a.        The people are to once again consecrate themselves.

b.       To cleanse themselves.

c.        The Israelites are to be a Holy People.

d.       In Exodus 19 we are told they are to be God’s priests to the world.

e.        Part of that is that they are to follow God’s commands.

f.          Someone among them did not listen to God.

g.        We know who that is.

h.        They still did not.

16.   Joshua 7:14-15

a.        God explained how they will figure out who sinned against God.

b.       He also is clear on what the punishment will be.

17.   Joshua 7:16-18

a.        The process is carried out as God directed.

b.       Achan is seen as the one at fault for violating God’s direction about what was Holy at Jericho.

18.   Joshua 7:19

a.        Achan knew that he had been found out.

b.       Joshua is giving him a chance to come clean.

c.        Be a man.

d.       Honor God.

e.        Do what is right.

f.          A chance to repent.

19.   Something that each person is given an opportunity to do.

a.        We are to repent of our sins.

b.       Confess that we are sinners.

c.        That we do need Jesus.

d.        That we are lost without Him.

20.   Joshua 7:20-21

a.        Achan confessed.

b.       He sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel.

c.        He knew exactly who he sinned against.

d.       It wasn’t against Joshua.

e.        The thirty-six guys were killed, but it wasn’t against them.

f.          It was against God.

g.        He disobeyed God.

21.   Achan coveted.

a.        He had a strong desire for a pretty cloak.

b.       Five pounds of silver.

c.        One and a quarter pounds of gold.

d.       Not sure how much value to put on the cloak.

e.        A nice jacket might be worth a few hundred dollars.

f.          But all in, we are looking at roughly $75K today.

g.        A hefty price is being paid for what is ultimately not a lot.

22.   Coveting is a strong desire for something we do not have.

a.        Wanting something so much that we are willing to do something that is not normal for us.

b.       Might stretch our morals a bit to get it.  

c.        Which then might blead into the whole belief side of things.

d.       Then that desire for something could impact does God really say that or was that really that guys interpretation???

23.   Coveting is a major problem and a slippery slope.

a.        It led Achan to sin against God shortly after seeing God stop the Jordan river.

b.       After watching God collapse the walls of Jericho.

24.   Coveting has a way of leading us to do things we don’t think we would ever do.

25.   Hebrews 13:5

a.        The love of money or just about anything else.

b.       We are to be satisfied or content with what we have.

c.        Because ultimately as Christ followers we have our God who will never leave us or forsake us.

d.       Their will always be ‘things’ we desire.

e.        But we have our God.

f.          He is better than all of those things and then some.

26.   Joshua 7:22-26

a.        The goods are returned to God.

b.       The punishment is carried out.

c.        Achan is punished and so is his family.

d.       Why the family, you might ask.

e.        The goods were buried in the family tent.

f.          The belief is that the family knew that he stole the items.

g.        They were in on the cover up.

h.        They were participating in the sin and shared in the punishment.

27.   The punishment of disobeying God is severe.

a.        We see it throughout the OT.

b.       In the Gospel of John we are told that if one rejects the Son, the wrath of God remains on them (3:36).

c.        We humans are sinful beings.

d.       We are born that way.

e.        All have fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

f.          We deserve an eternity of weeping and gnashing.

g.        We deserve the horrible forever.

28.   The good news is there is such thing as forgiveness.

a.        Joshua and the people received it from God.

b.       Joshua 8:1

c.        After they cleansed themselves of Achan.

d.       God’s blessing returned.

29.   Whether we have done something like Achan or not.

a.        We have done something.

b.       We are in need of a Savior.

c.        We need King Jesus.

d.       Which is why He came down to this earth.

e.        Lived a sinless life.

f.          Willingly died on a cross.

g.        Rose on the third day.

h.        Defeating death.

i.          And is offering each and everyone of us a new life with Him.

j.          All we need to do, is repent and believe.

k.        Ultimately giving our life to Jesus and choosing to follow Him.

30.   That is how one receives the most amazing gift that has been ever offered.

a.        If you do not know Jesus.

b.       He is offering that gift to you.

c.        A gift that will set you free from your sin.

d.       A gift that has paid your sin debt in full.

e.        I would love to share it with you.

31.   If you do know Jesus.

a.        Be careful with what you prioritize.

b.       It is easy to put something above God.

c.        To start coveting something.

d.       To let it drive your choices.

e.        Which can lead you to sinning against your God.

f.          If you have already started down that path, thankfully we have a different path than Achan.

g.        We can turn to Jesus.

h.        Repent and ask God to show you the righteous way.

i.          Ask a brother or Sister to help you through it.

j.          If you need prayer, know that I am here.