Joshua 9:16

Joshua 9:16 says,  And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.  After three days, the people of Israel heard that they had made a pact with their neighbors, which God had told them not to do.  It is a shame if we find out to late that we have gone against God's directions simply because we did not consult Him first.  Some things may seem harmless or even good, as I am sure the people of Israel felt about their agreement, but we need to make sure that we seek God's guidance in all that we do.  Verse seventeen states, And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.  The people that Joshua and the people of Israel made the pact with actually lived in four cities about three days journey from where they had been.  Verse thirteen declares, And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.  The princes, or leaders, of Israel did not kill the people of these cities because of the oath they had taken before God.  We cannot make a promise in God's name and then go against it.  The rest of the people of Israel murmured against the princes.  Verse nineteen adds, But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.  Like the people of Israel, we cannot renege on a promise made in the name of God.  Even though the people of Israel made the pact without consulting God, His name was still at stake, which is why we must be careful about making promises in God's name.  These promises will always be serious, because they always reflect on God.  Verse twenty continues, This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.  The leaders of Israel said that they would let the people in these cities live because of the oath made in God's name, unless they themselves should feel God's wrath.  Verse twenty-one says, And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.  The people of these cities were to be allowed to live, but they would be required to live up to their end of the agreement.  Verse twenty-two declares, And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?  Joshua called the leaders of these cities before him and asked why they had beguiled the people of Israel.  Though this was a good question, Joshua could have been asking why he had allowed himself to be beguiled by these people.  If we consult God before we take action in any situation, then the world will not be able to beguile us.  Verse twenty-three adds, Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.  Basically, Joshua said though they were to be spared that they were not to be freed from being bondmen, or servants.  Verse twenty-four states, And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.  The people of these cities said that they did what they did because they had heard that God had given the land to the people of Israel and that all the inhabitants were to be destroyed and they were afraid.  They did not come to God by faith, but attempted to find deliverance by their own plan.  People today may attempt to find salvation by some other method than faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, but it will not work.  Verse twenty-five adds, And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.  They said they put themselves at the mercy of Joshua.  Ultimately, those today who attempt to find their own salvation will be at the mercy of God, and if they have rejected Christ, His mercy will have passed.  Verse twenty-six declares, And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.  Joshua kept the agreement that had been made with them, even though it had been made under false pretenses, because it had been made in the name of God.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.  Though they were spared, the people of these cities had a limited role.  They were basically servants to the people of Israel and the house of God.

Joshua 9:1

Joshua 9:1 says. And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;  All the kings of the area heard of the victory of Israel.  Verse two states, That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.  All these kings united to fight against Joshua and Israel.  All those who do not believe in Christ today are really united in their fight against Him.  They may not all be joined together, but they are all united in their purpose, and that is to deny the authority of God, if not His very existence.  Verse three declares,.And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,  Then verse four adds, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;  There was one group of people, the Gibeonites, who weren't ready to go to war with Israel, but like the other groups, they did not accept God.  They were wily, and made it appear that they were from far away and were coming to Joshua and the people of Israel in peace.  These are the people that we really need to be aware of today.  There are people today who profess to accept Christ as their Savior and Lord, but they really are only doing so for their own benefit and not for God's glory.  Verse five continues, And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.  Not only did they put on old clothes and shoes, but they brought old moldy bread with them.  They were determined to sell themselves as having come from a long way off.  Verse six proclaims, And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.  The people of Gibeon went to Joshua and the people of Israel and told them that they were from a far country.  We need to realize that not everyone who comes to Christians today professing to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord have really put their faith in Him.  This does not mean that we are to question their faith, but that we are simply to be aware that this does happen.  Verse seven asked, And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?  Here, they are referred to as Hivites, and are asked how the people of Israel can make a league with them since they lived among the Israelites.  We cannot make a pact with the people of the enemies of God and still live in accordance with God's word.  There can be no compromise.  Verse eight answers, And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?  They professed to be Joshua's servants and then he asked them where they came from.  Joshua was at least trying to get to the truth, but we don't see him asking for God's guidance in the situation.  This should always be our first step when confronted with a question, and if it is, we not be so easily deceived.  Verse nine says,.And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,  They said they came from a very far country because they had heard of the fame of God because of what He had done in Egypt.  There will always be people who claim to know the power of God but are still unwilling to accept Him as their God.  Verse ten adds, And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.  They continued to speak about hearing of the victory that God had given Israel over other kings.  I really believe that people today have a hard time denying the power of God.  Even when they see it, they want to deny it pretend to come to Him for their own advantage.  Verse eleven continues, Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.  The people of Gibeon continued to profess the lie that they were telling, just as some people today profess Christianity simply to use it for their advantage.  Verse twelve states, This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:  They offered physical proof of the truth of their long journey, but it was a lie.  Verse thirteen adds, And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.  They said even their wine skins which were new were torn, as was their clothing.  We should not be surprised when people today attempt to deceive the world about their relationship to God if it is to their advantage to do so.  Verse fourteen declares, And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.  This was the main problem.  Joshua and the people of Israel did not seek the counsel of God.  We should never make decisions without consulting God first if we are followers of Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.  Joshua made a league with the people of Gibeon, which was in opposition to God's command.  Even the most powerful Christian can be deceived when he or she forgets to ask God for guidance in any situation, especially those that can have lasting consequences.  Joshua was the leader of the nation of Israel, but when relying on his own judgment, he was deceived.

Joshua 8:24

Joshua 8:24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.  The Israelites killed the people of Ai who had chased them, then returned to the city and killed those who were left.  Once more, we may think this extreme, but these were people who opposed God.  Though we are not called on to destroy those who oppose God today, we are called on to destroy their influence in our life.  Verse twenty-five states, And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.  Twelve thousand men and women died that day.  Since this says that this included all the men of Ai, they were not a large enough force to have defeated the army of Israel the first time, but the army of Israel had gone under their own power instead of relying on God.  As followers of Christ, we can be defeated by even small temptations if we are not living according to God's plan and by His power in our life.  Verse twenty-six adds, For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.  None of the people of Ai were spared.  Verse twenty-seven continues, Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.  Unlike Jericho, this time the people took the spoils of war for themselves, as God had commanded them to.  Vere twenty-eight declares,  And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.  Joshua burned the city of Ai, and it remained a desolation.  God has already destroyed the power of sin and spiritual death for those who accept Christ as Savior and Lord today.  The only way sin can have power over us today is if we allow it to if we are Christians.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.  The king of Ai was hanged for a day, then buried under a heap of stones at the gate of the city.  I believe this was done to show other people what would happen if they opposed God and the people of Israel, His people.  We do not have such visual demonstrations available today, so we must rely on simply living by the gospel of Christ to convince others to come to Christ by faith.  Verse thirty proclaims, Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,  Joshua built an altar to God on mount Ebal.  Joshua was giving the honor and glory to God for their victory, just as we should do in everything that we do today if we are His people.  Verse thirty-one adds, As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.  The altar was built according to the instructions that Moses had received from God and given to the people of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to God there.  We today need to give our offerings to God in accordance with His word.  It is not so much what we give as it is our reason and attitude for giving.  Verse thirty-two states, And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.  Joshua wrote on the stones of the altar a copy of the law of Moses, which was God's law.  We as followers of Christ should have God's law written in our hearts, which should be an altar to God.  Verse thirty-three adds, And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.  All the people, both the Israelites and the strangers around them who chose to, stood before the altar to worship God.  I believe that we can say that anyone who comes to God by faith will be welcome at His altar.  Jesus did not die just for a select group of people, but for all who come to Him by faith.  Verse thirty-four continues,  And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.  Joshua read the whole law of God to them.  We cannot just accept the part of God's law that we like to follow, but must follow all of His law.  Verse thirty-five concludes, There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.  Just as Joshua read all the word of Moses, the law that God had given Him, to the people then, we must share all of God's word with the people today.  The gospel is to be shared with everyone, even the stranger and little children.

Joshua 8:10

Joshua 8:10 says,  And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.  Joshua rose up early, counted the people of Israel and went with the elders up before the people of Ai.  This doesn't really sound like the way to prepare for war, and I am not sure why Joshua counted the people, other than that must have been something God led him to do.  Verse eleven states, And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.  Not only the people of war, or army we would say, went near Ai, but all the people went together and camped on the north side of Ai.  We may not all feel like we are people of war in the battle with evil, but we are all a part of God's army, whether we are actively engaged in what feels like a battle or not.  Even if we are not in a great battle, we need to support those who are to the best of our ability.  Verse twelve says, And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.  Joshua set five thousand men up on the west side of Ai to ambush those who came after the people of Israel.  This was not just Joshua's plan, but God's plan.  Though I don't know that we are to ambush those who oppose God today, I do know that He has a plan that will lead to their defeat.  We simply have to follow His leadership.  Verse thirteen declares,  And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.  That night, when everything was in place, Joshua went into the valley between Ai and the people of Israel.  It seems that Joshua went alone into the valley.  He was the leader of the people, but he wasn't hiding safely behind them.  Sometimes, we may need to place ourselves in a place of danger in order to do the will of God.  Verse fourteen proclaims, And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.  When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, he went with all his people to battle them, but the did not recognize the ambush that had been set up.  Satan will send all his army against us today, especially if he thinks that we are close to defeat, but he will always be ambushed by the cross of Calvary.  The victory is already ours, as long as we remain faithful to God.  Verse fifteen states, And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.  The people of Israel and Joshua all acted like they were defeated and fled by way of the wilderness.  Verse sixteen adds, And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.   All the people of Ai left the city to pursue the people of Israel.  They seemingly had an easy victory in sight once again.  The people of the world may at times see us, as followers of Christ, as people who are easily defeated, but if we are following God's plan, they will always be in for a surprise.  We cannot be defeated spiritually as long as we follow God's leadership.  Verse seventeen continues, And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.  The people of Ai were so confident of victory that they left the city totally unguarded.  After all, they had defeated the people of Israel once before with no real problem.  There was a difference this time though.  The people of Israel were following God's direction and relying on His power.  We may have been defeated before by the world when we have failed to live by God's guidance and under His power, but if we return to Him, we do not have to continue to suffer defeat.  Verse eighteen declares, And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.  God told Joshua to stretch out his spear toward Ai and that God would give him the victory.  The victory was not to be because of Joshua stretching out the spear, but because he was following the command of God.  We are not going to be spiritually victorious today because of our own power, but because we are following God's guidance.  Verse nineteen adds, And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.  Those who had waited in ambush went into the city and set it on fire.  This was the place of security for the people of Ai, and now it was burning, and the people of God were on both sides of them.  Verse twenty continues, And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.  Like the people of Ai that day, when the people of the world who reject God look back for some place of safety they are going to find none.  There is no place of refuge outside the safety that we receive by following Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-one declares, And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.  When the people of Israel saw that the city of Ai was on fire, they turned and killed the enemy.  These were the same people who had fled earlier when they went to take Ai by their own power.  We do not gain any super human strength when we begin to follow God, but we do gain a spiritual strength that cannot be defeated as long as we are faithful to God.  Verse twenty-two adds, And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.  All the people of Ai were killed, except the king.  God's victory over sin and death will always be a complete victory.  Verse twenty-three concludes, And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.  The king had just lost everything, and just like him, one day those who do not accept Christ as their Savior and Lord will stend before God having lost everything.

Joshua 8;1

Joshua 8:1 says, And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:  God told Joshua to not fear or be dismayed.  The people of Ai had just defeated the army of Israel, but God told Joshua to not let this cause him to be afraid or dismayed.  God had already assured Joshua of the victory.  The army of Israel were fighting by their own power the first time, and now they were fighting under God's leadership.  If we suffer defeat in the world today, we need to listen to God's voice to make sure that we are doing what He is directing us to do, and if we are, then we need not be afraid.  Verse two states, And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.  God said that the army of Israel would defeat Ai just as they had Jericho, but this time the spoils would go to the people of Israel.  God was already giving them victory over their enemies, and now He was going to give them material blessings.  If we want to be blessed by God, we must do things according to His timetable.  The first spoils went too God, then He gave the next to the people of Israel.  They were  to lay an ambush behind the city.  Verse three declares, So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.  Joshua chose thirty thousand men of valor and sent them away by night.  They were not really referred to as an army, but as people of war, which we would call an army.  These men were noted for their valor, but I am sure many were the ones who had recently been routed by the people of Ai.  Even if we have recently failed God, we must still be people of valor as we do God's work.  We cannot allow past failures to keep us from future success.  Verse four adds, And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:  These men Joshua selected were to lay in wait behind the city, but close to it.  Joshua was carrying out God's plan, just as we must today if we re to be successful.  Verse five continues, And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,  Joshua said that the rest of the people and he himself would come to the city from the front and flee when the people of Ai came out to face them.  They were basically to be the bait, and they were to flee as they had before.  Joshua was actually placing himself in a more dangerous position, and we today should be willing to accept the dangerous position if we know that we are doing what God wants us to do.  Verse six states, (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.  Joshua said that the people of Ai would come out of the city to chase the people of Israel, believing that they were fleeing again.  If we have failed in our stand for God, then the people of the world may be emboldened.  Verse seven adds, Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.  Joshua told them that when the people of Ai had left the city that those behind them were to seize the city, because God had given it to them.  Joshua did not say that it was his plan, but that it was God's plan and that God was giving them the victory.  The only way that we are going to be victorious today is if we are following God's plan, and when we are victorious, we should always give God the credit for the victory.  Verse eight continues, And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.  Though the people of Israel were to share in the spoils, the were to burn the city itself.  Verse nine concludes, Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.  The ambush was set, and Joshua remained among the people who stayed behind.  Sometimes, even if we are in a position of leadership, God may direct us to stay behind where we might think that we are out of the battle.  Just like Joshua though, we are to follow what we believe to be God's leadership for us.

Joshua 7:16

Joshua 7:16 says, So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:  Again Joshua rose up early and brought the twelve tribes of Israel before him, and the tribe of Judah was separated out as the looked for the accursed thing that had led to their defeat.  Verse seventeen states, And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:  Then Joshua began to separate the families of the tribe of Judah.  Though all of Israel was affected, it was the one who had brought the accursed thing into the nation that had to be identified.  One person bringing an accursed thing into the church today can affect many Christians.  Verse eighteen adds, And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.  Finally, Achan was identified as the one responsible.  Though Joshua was identified as the one responsible for the search, I believe that it was only by the power of God that he was able to identify Achan.  We cannot accuse other Christians of acting in a sinful way unless we are sure that we are following God's leadership when we do.  We cannot do so simply because we do not like or agree with what they are doing.  Verse nineteen declares, And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.  Joshua didn't just condemn Achan, but referred to him as his son and gave him an opportunity to confess and repent before God.  We should never just look for an opportunity to have a reason for other Christians, or even the lost of the world, to be punished, but should always reach out tot them with the love of God so that the may repent.  Verse twenty states, And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:  Achan confessed that he had sinned, as we all have.  Verse twenty-one adds, When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. Achan said when he saw some silver and gold, he took it and buried it in his tent.  It really was doing him no good where it was, and it broke his covenant with God.  Anything that we gain outside the will of God, no matter how appealing it may be, will be just as useful as this silver and gold were to Achan in everlasting terms.  If we are guilty of trying to steal from God, we know that we cannot hide our sin from Him.  Verse twenty-two proclaims. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.  Joshua sent messengers to see if the silver and gold were where Achan said they were.  We should likewise always make sure that we know that our facts are straight if we are dealing with others.  Verse twenty-three adds, And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.  They brought the silver and gold to Joshua, but it says they laid them before the LORD.  Ultimately, that is where the sins of each individual must be laid.  Even when someone comes before the church or the preacher to profess their sins, it is to God that that person is really confessing.  Verse twenty-four declares, And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.  Everything that Achan owned and his family were brought to the valley of Achor.  Then verse twenty five adds, And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.  Joshua asked Achan why he had done this and troubled Israel.  We today have to ask why we have sinned and troubled God if we are to find forgiveness.  We might think that it was extreme to kill Achan's whole family and all his animals, but what he had done had brought shame to Israel and God.  Though Achan and his family were stoned, I believe that they all had an opportunity to make things right with God.  We may suffer earthly consequences fr our sins, but if we confess and make things right with God then that doesn't matter.  Verse twenty-six concludes, And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.  After the sin was dealt with, God turned from His anger.  Unless we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, one day we will face the judgment of God, and our punishment will be much greater than that of Achan.  We will be separated from God to endure everlasting punishment.

Joshua 7:10

Joshua 7:10 says, And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?  God told Joshua to get up, and then asked him why he was lying on his face.  Joshua seemed to have at least temporarily forgotten the power of God.  When the troops returned in defeat, Joshua questioned God.  As followers of Christ today, if things go wrong in life and we are feeling defeated, we don't need to question God, but to ask what we have done wrong instead.  The Israelites at this time had just assumed that God was going to bless everything they did and went ahead in their own power, without making sure that everyone was being obedient to God.  Verse eleven declares, Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.  God told Joshua the reason that the men had been defeated.  It wasn't because of the power of the enemy, but because of the sin of Israel.  Even though we are only told of one person stealing an accursed thing, it affected all of God's people.  We might think this to be unfair, but all the people were delivered from bondage to the promised land together and they all made a covenant with God together.  We today are not saved as a collective group, but individually, but the sin of one Christian can still impact more than just the individual sinner.  The sin of one can weaken the effectiveness of a whole group of believers as we reach out to the lost world with the gospel of Christ.  Verse twelve adds, Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.  God said that He was not responsible for their defeat, but their disobedience to their covenant with Him was.  God also said that this wasn't going to change as long as this sin remained in their midst.  We cannot hide our sin from God, nor can we expect  Him to continue to bless us if we are allowing sinful actions into our life again.  Verse thirteen continues, Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.  God told Joshua to get up and sanctify the people and to tell them that there was an accursed thing amongst them.  God also told Joshua to tell them that until this accursed thing was removed that they could not stand before their enemies.  If we are going to stand before our enemies today by the power of God, we cannot allow sin, no matter how insignificant it might seem, to enter into our life.  Verse fourteen declares, In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.  God told Joshua that the next day that the people were to come before God, and God would single out the tribe, then the family, and finally the man who was guilty.  Ultimately, we stand before God individually to be judged for our sins, and we alone will be accountable for them. We will either have forgiveness through our relationship with Christ as our Savior and Lord, or we will suffer the punishment ourselves.  There is no in-between.   Verse fifteen concludes, And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.  There was  a severe penalty for the one who had taken the accursed thing, because this had affected the whole nation.  We may think that a small failure to follow God's will is no big thing, but we need to realize that sin brings serious consequences.  The person who had the accursed thing and all that he owned was to be burned.  No one else was going to profit from the sin of this one person by claiming what he left behind.  When the judgment of God comes, all that anyone has gained outside of the will of God will be burned up, so as His people, we need not attempt to lay up earthly treasures.  We must always put the will of God first.