1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: And ake and answered Joshua and said, indeed, I have 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: sinned against the Lord, God of Israel. And thus and 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: thus have I done Joshua seven twenty. Dear Lord, meditating 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: on Joshua seven and eight, I will be sure not 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 1: to take any mindsets and idols that are contrary to 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: the ways of the Lord. I come against the mindset 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: of Acin that would have me take possession of what 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: is not mine. I will be patient and wait for 9 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: you to bring my perfect blessing to me. Like Joshua, 10 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: if there is anything in my life that would stop 11 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: me from winning the battles, I pray that you will 12 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: help me identify them and then remove them from my life. 13 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: When I experience moments of setbacks, I will realign myself, 14 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: then reassess my heart to make sure that I am 15 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: living in complete obedience to you, Lord. When my victories 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: seem far in between, I will stop and go back 17 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: to my last place of disobedience so that I can 18 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: make it right. Then move forward in my promise. Through 19 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: your word, I have all the promises and strategies needed 20 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: to win every battle. You are with me, Lord, and 21 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: for that I'm forever grateful. Be strong and courageous with 22 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: you God, I've got this in Jesus name. Amen. Thank 23 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: you for praying with me today. Continue listening for an 24 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 1: incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in a 25 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: Year dot Com. 26 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: Click the link of the description to grow closer to God. 27 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 2: There you'll find daily prayers, Bible plans, sleep stories, and 28 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 2: so much more all on the prey dot com app. 29 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 2: Click the link of the description to get started. 30 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 3: Aiken sins. In our last story, we learned of God's 31 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: enormous power with the marching and shouts of Israel. The 32 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 3: walls of Jericho crumbled and the Hebrew army stormed the city. 33 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 3: Now we learn about Israel's self confidence being shattered by 34 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 3: loss and idolatry. Aiken sins and hides it from Joshua, 35 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 3: and the sins of Israel cause stumbling across the land 36 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 3: inspired by the Book of Joshua. 37 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 4: We're so glad you've joined us on the Bible and 38 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 4: of your podcast today. The Bible any of your podcast 39 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 4: is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come 40 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 4: to you each week through the support of listeners just 41 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 4: like you. Your support today is so important that we 42 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 4: want to thank you for your gift by giving you 43 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 4: a copy of my book called the Jesus Book. It 44 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 4: is a powerful guide that shows how every book of 45 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 4: the Bible points to Jesus and how his living word, 46 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 4: the truth of God's Word, will transform your life. So 47 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 4: to get a copy of the Jesus Book, simply go 48 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 4: to Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham 49 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 4: dot org slash Jesus and thank you for your support. 50 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 4: In our previous episode, we heard how God delivered the 51 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 4: city of Jericho to the Israelites in a surprising and 52 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 4: miraculous way. With the blowing of trumpets and the shouting 53 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 4: of his people, God calls the walls of Jericho to 54 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 4: collapse into rubble. The Israelites has stormed the exposed city 55 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 4: with God's order to destroy everything but the gold, silver, bronze, 56 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 4: and iron, which were to be taken for the Lord's treasury. 57 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 4: They were warned not to keep plunder for themselves, lest 58 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 4: they bring trouble on the whole camp. Today we learn 59 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 4: of one man named Aiken, whose greed got the best 60 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 4: of him, and how his secret sin, an act of 61 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 4: disobedience and deceit, brings heartache to all around him. Joshua 62 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 4: and his army will be left perplexed as they lose 63 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 4: in battle, but the truth will come out and the 64 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 4: people will learn that God is not to be defied. 65 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 4: Let's listen now to today's reading. 66 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 3: The faithful arm of God carried Israel to victory. The 67 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 3: Israelied army laughed and cheered in the streets of Jericho. 68 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 3: The day was drawing to a close, and the men 69 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 3: were gathering the spoils of war, taking anything valuable to 70 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 3: be stored for the rest of Israel. Joshua instructed specifically 71 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 3: that any idols that cause their hearts to stumble should 72 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 3: be ignored, for God had given them victory, and to 73 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 3: take idols as spoils of war would be spitting in 74 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 3: the face of the Lord. Aiken from the tribe of 75 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 3: Judah was rummaging around in the wreckage for anything valuable 76 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 3: or interesting. At the corner of his eye, he spotted something. 77 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 3: An altar to some of the Jericho gods stood there 78 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 3: perfectly intact. The altar was gold, and on it several 79 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 3: canaanite idols were spread across its base. They glimmered and 80 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 3: reflected back in Aikin's eyes. Aigin smiled as he looked 81 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 3: around him to see if anyone was watching. Then he 82 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 3: took the idols and stuffed them in his back. Unbeknownst 83 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 3: to Achin, the anger of God was awakened against him 84 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 3: that moment. Aikin did not know that his idolatry would 85 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 3: send Israel into heart ache. Joshua sent spies to the 86 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 3: neighboring land of Eye. The spies came back with a 87 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 3: good report, saying that they only needed two to three 88 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 3: thousand men in order to take the land, for the 89 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 3: army was small there and the city was vulnerable. So 90 00:05:56,279 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 3: Joshua and his men marched forward towards I. Aiken was 91 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 3: among them, still hiding his idols. Joshua and the army 92 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 3: of Israel drew their swords. Their marching turned into running, 93 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 3: and they shouted as they stormed the city of Eye. 94 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 3: I met them with great strength. The battle raged, and 95 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 3: the people of Israel began to fall one by one. 96 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 3: Swords tore apart the flesh of thirty six Israelite men, 97 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 3: and it became apparent to Joshua that they would not 98 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 3: win this battle. 99 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: Retreat. 100 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 3: Joshua yelled, and the army of Israel fled to the mountains, dirty, bloodied, 101 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 3: and bruised. The men sat there, astonished. After such a 102 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 3: glorious victory in Jericho, how could they have lost? Their 103 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 3: hearts melted, and their optimism disappeared like vapor. Joshua fell 104 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 3: before God at the ark. He lay there until evening. 105 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 3: Joshua tightened his jaw. His face was on the ground 106 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 3: and dust was on his head. His eyes were sealed shut, 107 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 3: and he was holding back tears. Why did you bring 108 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 3: us over the Jordan at all? Joshua asked, Would you 109 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 3: bring us out here just to have us slaughtered? We 110 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 3: have fled from our enemies. Word will spread of our cowardice, 111 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 3: and they will be emboldened to come out and slaughter us. 112 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 3: Joshua finally began to cry. His heart was broken over 113 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 3: such a tragic loss. Although thirty six men was not 114 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 3: a large military blow, it meant everything to Israel. The 115 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 3: Lord had no patience or compassion listening to Joshua's words. 116 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 3: Get up, he yelled, Why do you fall on your face? 117 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 3: The people have broken their promise to me. They have 118 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 3: stolen idols. If I am not their god, then why 119 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 3: would I grant them victory? God spoke with firmness, and 120 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 3: Joshua listened with anger. Joshua rose early and brought every 121 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 3: tribe of Israel before him. He paced in front of them, staring. 122 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 3: He pointed to the tribe of Judah and brought them forward. 123 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 3: Then all those in the tribe of Judah were brought 124 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 3: before Joshua. One by one. They brought their case before 125 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 3: Joshua and left. Then Aikin came forward. What have you done, 126 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 3: Joshua asked. Immediately, Aikin crumbled. He confessed to taking idols 127 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 3: from jericho In storing them underneath his tent. So Joshua 128 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 3: sent his men to ransack the tent. They brought all 129 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 3: the gold and silver Achin had taken and showcased it 130 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 3: in front of all the people. They grabbed Akin, his 131 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 3: family and all the idols he had taken, and dragged 132 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 3: them to the valley of Acor. Why have you done this, 133 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 3: Joshua asked. Afterwards, he said nothing. They bound Akin in 134 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 3: the middle of the valley. Each member of the tribe 135 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:03,319 Speaker 3: picked up stone. One by one they hurled stones at Achin. 136 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 3: Blood and screams scattered across the field. Akin writhed before them, 137 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 3: bound and unable to free himself. Stone after stone struck 138 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 3: Achin until he breathed his last. Joshua then took Achin 139 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 3: along with his idols and burned them. Everyone looked as 140 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 3: Akin melted with his idols. He shared their fate, destined 141 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 3: to become nothing. The anger of God disappeared with the 142 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 3: ashes of Achin and his idols. God turned to Joshua 143 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: and said, do not be afraid to go against Iye, 144 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 3: once again I have given them into your hand. Joshua 145 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 3: felt the confidence of the Lord returned to him. This time, 146 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 3: Joshua gathered thirty thousand of his finest men to take 147 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 3: Aye with force. The battle would not be easy, and 148 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 3: it would require tact and patience, so Joshua and all 149 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 3: the fighting men rose up to go towards I. Joshua 150 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 3: laid out his plan before them and said, twenty five 151 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 3: thousand of you shall lie in waiting on the outskirts 152 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 3: of the city. I and five thousand of my men 153 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: will storm the city and clash with eye. When they 154 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 3: come out to battle, we will flee as we did before. 155 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:24,959 Speaker 3: When they come after us, you will ambush the city 156 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 3: and set it ablaze. They schemed all night, strategizing in bickering. 157 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 3: The next morning they were ready. Joshua and five thousand 158 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 3: of his men met Eye and his army for battle. 159 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 3: The two forces clashed. The Israelite army feigned weakness and 160 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 3: tucked tail and ran from Eye. Filled with confidence, I 161 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 3: pursued Israel to finish them once and for all. The 162 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 3: five thousand men fled to the hills, luring Eye further 163 00:10:56,160 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 3: and further from their city. Then, like mighty wavesshing upon 164 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 3: the rocks, twenty five thousand of Israel's warriors clashed against 165 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 3: the city of Eye. The lands stood no chance, and 166 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 3: they set it ablaze for all the world to see. 167 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 3: The men of I looked back to see their city 168 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 3: rising up in smoke and flames. As they looked back, 169 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 3: the five thousand men of Israel leapt like a lion 170 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 3: against its prey. The jars of Israel's army locked on 171 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 3: to the neck of Eye, they tore them apart, limb 172 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 3: from limb, sparing no soldier. None were able to escape, 173 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 3: and the king of Iye was taken captive and brought 174 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 3: to Joshua miles away in Eye. More men arose from 175 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 3: the city to come against the army of Israel. Israel 176 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 3: was surrounded by soldiers from the right and from the left. 177 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 3: Swords flew and shields burst. The flames in the city 178 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 3: grew larger and larger, and ash filled the air. Israel 179 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 3: fought among the flames, dousing the fire with the blood 180 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,959 Speaker 3: of their enemies. All fell at the edge of their sword. 181 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 3: A total of twelve thousand bodies burned with the City 182 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 3: of Eye. Only the live stock was spared as plunder. 183 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 3: The rest was left as a heap of ruins in 184 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 3: a monument to God's greatness. Joshua hung the King of Eye, 185 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 3: and he remained there for the rest of the day. 186 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 3: As the sun was setting across the land, Joshua threw 187 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 3: the king's body among the ashes of his city. The 188 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 3: air smelled of blood, metal, and ash. Joshua raised his 189 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 3: javelin and screamed a war cry of victory. All thirty 190 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 3: thousand men joined in their shouts. The roaring of Israel 191 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 3: shook the ground. Another victory. The promised land was closer. 192 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 3: They built an altar to God and renewed their covenant 193 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 3: with him. With God as their mighty warrior king, no 194 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 3: nation would ever stand against them and prevail. Standing among 195 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,599 Speaker 3: the ash a shout of victory bellowed across the land 196 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 3: for all to here. 197 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 4: Today's reading opens in the aftermath of the Battle of Jericho. 198 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 4: The people were rejoicing over the victory that God had 199 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 4: given them in their first challenge in the Promised Land. 200 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 4: God knew they would be quick to turn away, as 201 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 4: they had done many times before, so he had commanded 202 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 4: them to keep no spoils for themselves. It was a test. 203 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 4: The shrines and the idols in Jericho would be a 204 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 4: stumbling block, so they must be completely destroyed. But one 205 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 4: man named Aiken was captivated by the spoils and took 206 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 4: some for himself. He knew it was wrong because he 207 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 4: carefully hid what he had taken in his tent. Nobody knew, 208 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 4: at least he thought. God of course knew, and this 209 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 4: act of disrespect and defiance of God. His disobedience, angered 210 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 4: the Lord greatly. This was secret sin sin in the camp, 211 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 4: and it had to be dealt with. When Joshua and 212 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 4: his army went into battle against the neighboring city of Ai, 213 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 4: his men met a formidable foe and an ignominious defeat, 214 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,719 Speaker 4: as thirty six Israelite men were cut down, and this 215 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 4: forced Joshua to call a retreat. They returned to camp defeated, 216 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 4: not knowing what had happened. What was God doing? Joshua wondered. 217 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 4: Downcast and dispirited. Joshua fell before the ark and cried 218 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 4: out to God, asking him, why does this happen? Won't 219 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 4: this make you and us look bad before the nations? 220 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 4: But God was having none of this. He called for 221 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 4: Joshua to get up, and then he laid out the 222 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 4: accusation that no doubt stunned Joshua, and we read about 223 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 4: it here in Joshua seven verses eleven through twelve. Israel 224 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 4: has sinned. They have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them. 225 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 4: They've taken some of the devoted things they have stolen 226 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 4: and lied, and put them among their own belongings. Therefore, 227 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 4: the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They 228 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 4: turned their backs before their enemies because they have become 229 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 4: devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more 230 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 4: unless you destroy the devoted things that are among you. 231 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 4: This secret sin, this single act of disobedience, would not stand. 232 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 4: God is teaching every one of us a lesson that 233 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 4: we must confess our sins and not hide them away. 234 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 4: That a divided heart cannot walk with God, and God 235 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 4: cannot use us with sin in our lives. God instructed 236 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 4: Joshua as to how they would find the culprit, and 237 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 4: just as he said, the guilty party was discovered. Acon 238 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 4: came forward and confessed his sin, surely to the anger 239 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 4: and shock of everyone around them. Achin and the things 240 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 4: that he had taken were quickly destroyed, and judgment came 241 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 4: upon Aichen and his family. He said Joshua once more 242 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 4: to battle at Ai, and this time the victory was 243 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 4: come out. Not a soul was left standing, only the livestock. 244 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 4: God's blessing and protection was once again upon his people, 245 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 4: just as he had promised. Hope is restored, and the 246 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 4: neighboring cities feared the God of Israel and his army. 247 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 4: The next time, we're going to learn about a new 248 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 4: approach to war that one of those neighbors employs. Dear God, 249 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 4: we pray that you would search our hearts and if 250 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 4: there is any sin, if there is a secret sin, 251 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 4: if there is a buried sin in our lives, that 252 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 4: we would confess it and find forgiveness, that we would 253 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 4: learn to obey you always and never try to cover 254 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 4: up our disobedience to you. Thank you for always showing 255 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 4: us mercy when we come to you. We pray this 256 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 4: in the name of your son Jesus, who made it 257 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 4: possible for us to confess our sins and to be forgiven. 258 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 4: In Jesus's name, we pray Amen. Thank you for listening 259 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 4: to today's Bible into your podcast, and before we go, 260 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 4: I wanted to let you know that the Bible into 261 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 4: Your podcast is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can 262 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 4: only come to you each week through the support of 263 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 4: listeners like you. Your support today is so important that 264 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 4: we want to thank you for your gift by giving 265 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,199 Speaker 4: you a copy of my book called The Jesus Book. 266 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 4: This book is a powerful guide that shows how every 267 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 4: book in the Bible points to Christ, and how you 268 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 4: can better read and understand the Bible and how God's 269 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 4: word transforms our lives. So to get your copy of 270 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 4: The Jesus Book, simply go to Jaggraham dot org slash Jesus. 271 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 4: That's Jaggraham dot org slash Jesus and thank you for 272 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 4: your support. 273 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 2: If today's reading moved you, the Prey dot com app 274 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 2: is where you can go deeper with daily prayers, Bible 275 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 2: plans and more. Download it free link in the description.