1. December 13, 2009

2. God warned them against taking anything for themselves from this city. God gave them victory, and yet one disobeyed His Word.

3. Joshua 7 1 But the children of Israel com-mitted 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. Not just against Achan; God's anger was against the whole nation. Some would say that God doesn't get angry with His children.

4. Psalms 85 (NIV) 4 Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away Your displeasure toward us. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong your anger through all generations? 6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us Your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. 1 Samuel 15 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. …

5. Psalms 7 11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. Achan disobeyed God and brought God's anger upon the entire nation of Israel.

6. 2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3 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 labor thither; for they are but few . What's missing? What did they fail to do?

7. Proverbs 16 (TLB) 1 We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God’s hands. Proverbs 16 (NIV) 9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16 18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. We can get everything we ever thought we wanted, and our life can still be empty and worthless .

8. 1 Peter 5 7 Casting all your care upon Him; for HE careth for you. We must have the humility to admit that we can't take care of ourselves, And then call on the Lord, Who can and will take care of us. Joshua failed to pray, and his army was routed .

9. 4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 5 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. Never before had they met strong resistance; God had always fought their battles. He had taken care of their every need .

10. They went to battle without God's help . There was sin in the camp. There was rebellion against God's Command. There was pride and independence . There was a stubborn determination to get wealth.

11. 6 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. Proper Response Until our sin breaks our heart, and we grieve because we have sinned, We can not truly repent.

12. Psalms 34 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Their heart is broken and their spirit crushed, because they have sinned. Because of their stubbornness and rebellion against God and His Word . Because of their pride and independence .

13. A broken heart and a crushed spirit leads to true repentance , and repentance brings deliverance. To truly repent is to confess our sin as sin , And turn from sin unto righteousness. Anything less is hypocrisy.

14. What led to the defeat at Ai?

15. Achan defied the Commandment of God not to touch the accursed thing at Jericho. Does a person have to say, "I defy God." in order to defy Him? No. All willful disobedience is defiance. The second thing that brought defeat at Ai:

16. They failed to pray before they went. Had Joshua sought God's Face , God would have revealed the sin in the camp to him. He could have dealt with sin, And God's anger would have turned from Israel. The third thing that brought defeat at Ai:

17. Pride and thoughts of Self-sufficiency We won't even need the whole army; (much less God). We must avoid these three mistakes , if we would live good, blessed, lives. God wants only the best for His children. All we need to do is humble ourselves under His Mighty Hand and live our lives His Way . Cast all our care upon Him, and allow Him to care for us.