Joshua 7:10-13 (NKJV)

10 So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have…

Joshua 7:10-13 (NKJV)

become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. 13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.”

JOSHUA 7:10-13

Seriousness of Sin

Seriousness of Sin

We live in a very sinful world

Our world isn’t much different than the world that Noah lived in (Gen. 6:5)

We encounter sin on a daily basis

We have almost been conditioned to look the other way or to just ignore the sin being committed

Seriousness of Sin

Dateline NBC has done a show called “What Would You Do?”

The attitude of society largely has become to ignore sin

This may have encouraged us as Christians to simply look the other way when sins are committed by ourselves and others as well

Seriousness of Sin

What it ultimately does is it minimizes sin and the seriousness of it

Many may be thinking, “Is sin that serious?”

The Bible teaches us over and over about the seriousness of sin

Let’s go back to Ai as a case study…

Seriousness of Sin

1. God hates sin

One of the lessons we learn throughout the Bible is that God certainly hates sin

We see it here in Joshua 7 when the Israelites lose the battle at Ai

It is evident that God hates the sin that was committed and would not simply look the other way

Seriousness of Sin

1. God hates sin

Proverbs 6:16-19 speaks of some of the sins that God hates

“Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate!” (Jer. 44:4)

More sins that God hates are listed in Zechariah 8:17

Seriousness of Sin

1. God hates sin

“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness” (Ps. 5:4)

Jesus said He hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans (Rev. 2:6)

Sin is serious because it is something that God hates!

Seriousness of Sin

2. God would not bless the Israelites

Prior to this sin, God had blessed the Israelites in their victory over Jericho

In Joshua 7:5, 36 men died because of one man’s sin

God states that because of this sin, He was not with them in battle (vs. 11-12)

Seriousness of Sin

2. God would not bless the Israelites

Look at God’s words in Joshua 1:7-9…

God is not going to continue blessing those who turn against Him and His will

Our sin separates us from God and causes His face to be hidden from us so that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Seriousness of Sin

2. God would not bless the Israelites

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (I Pet. 3:8-12)

Sin is serious business when it causes God to turn His face from us and no longer bless us!

Seriousness of Sin

3. All had to be sanctified

Even though all did not sin, all still needed to be sanctified

This should really get our attention as to the seriousness of sin!

Sanctify – clean, consecrate, purify, set apart

Seriousness of Sin

3. All had to be sanctified

But wait…why sanctify the people if only 1 sinned?

God knows about sin and it’s danger

He knows that sin is like a cancer that can grow and spread if left untreated

Paul’s description of sin (II Tim. 2:16-17)

Seriousness of Sin

3. All had to be sanctified

Gal. 5:9 – “A little leaven leavens the whole lump”

A little sin in our midst could spread like wildfire!

God is serious about sin!

We need to understand the seriousness of it as well

Seriousness of Sin

3. All had to be sanctified

God’s message is today and has always been to get the sin out! Deut. 13:5 Deut. 17:6-7 Deut. 19:19 Deut. 21:21 Deut. 22:21, 24 Deut. 24:7

Seriousness of Sin

3. All had to be sanctified

Jesus had the same message in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:29-30)

God realizes that sin is infectious and we sometimes have a weak immune system

“…considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1)

Seriousness of Sin

3. All had to be sanctified

“have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph. 5:11)

“do not receive him into your house nor greet him” (II Jn. 9-11)

God will not tolerate sin in His midst (Rev. 21:27)

Seriousness of Sin

4. Confession was required

If sin isn’t that bad, then why must the one who commits it confess?

Joshua 7:19-21

Joshua knew at this point who did it

Achan’s fate was already sealed

He still demanded confession

Seriousness of Sin

4. Confession was required

“Confess your trespasses to one another…” (Js. 5:16)

Confession is spoken of as vital to our forgiveness (I Jn. 1:8-10)

If sin were no big deal, would God require us to confess in order to be forgiven?

Seriousness of Sin

5. Punishment showed the seriousness

If nothing else can convince us of the seriousness of sin, punishment surely can

Think of all who suffered: 36 innocent men died in battle Achan was stoned and then burned His family died as well

Seriousness of Sin

5. Punishment showed the seriousness

God deals with sin harshly (II Thess. 1:7-9)

Isaiah 13:11 – God gives us ample warning

Many sins are listed and their punishment spoken of (I Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8)

All this is to keep us from sinning!