Joshua 7.
THE first verse tells us that there was sin in the camp of Israel, and though only one person had done what God had forbidden, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the nation. It is plain that Joshua and all the people had become somewhat self-confident after the fall of Jericho. They too, had lost a true sense of the holiness of God. To a large extent a parallel case is found in 1 Corinthians 5. The cases are alike in that the assembly was looked upon by God as responsible for unjudged sin within it, and only was cleared of guilt when the sin was judged and put away; alike also in being in a state of soul, not unlike that of the world around them.
Joshua was at Jericho (verse 2); he might better have been back at Gilgal, considering again the lessons of the river Jordan which we noticed in connection with chapters 3, 4 and 5. But it was from Jericho that he sent men to Ai which was beside Beth-aven (“house of iniquity”), and near Bethel (“house of God” but in Satan’s possession now). The names speak for themselves.
The men return with a confidence that left God out of consideration. It was not necessary that many of the people should go there to attack the little town, they said, but did not inquire of the Lord, and so the three thousand who went against Ai, were driven back with a loss of about 36 men.
Out of communion with God, Joshua, instead of inquiring of Him for the cause of this humbling reverse, mourns over what God had done when He brought them, over the Jordan! The three verses of his lament (7, 8, 9) are all concerned about Israel, except at the end when God’s great name is mentioned. But when God answers, He discloses to Joshua that which he might have learned before: Israel had sinned. It was on this account that they could not stand before their enemies, nor would God be with them anymore, unless they destroyed the accursed from among them.
There must then be a separation; and a heart searching follows under the searching eye of God Himself. The guilty one must be punished, but all Israel is first dealt with because all were responsible; they were one in privilege and in responsibility, and the sin of one was the sin of all. Practical corporate holiness, much forgotten in these days of growing lukewarmness, is as important as individual holiness.
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.” 1 Corinthians 5:3, 7.
The Christian must stand clear of connection with everything contrary to the expressed mind of God.
It was a painful thing indeed to put away the evil, but there could be no advance in the war against Satan’s hosts until it was put away. God requires holiness in His people, as we see also in the case of Ananias and Sapphire in Acts 5:1-11.
This valley, the witness and memorial of the first sin committed after entering the land, is promised in Hosea 2:14, 15 for a “door of hope” in the day when God in sovereign grace will take Israel in hand again. What marvelous grace!
ML 07/12/1925