Breaking Faith

GETTING STARTED

There are recurring instances in the Scriptures that show how the action of one person can have an effect on many. For example, in Genesis, Adam sins in the garden and all of mankind is subsequently born with a sin nature. In the New Testament, Paul writes that in the body of Christ, when one member suffers, all suffer; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Joshua, chapter seven, shines light on this biblical thread about our connectedness, for better or worse. It gives us a glimpse of how God works in redemptive history. So in our text today, when one Israelite breaks faith in regard to the devoted things… let’s read and see what happens.

  • When have you been affected by the sin of another?

READ THE WORD: JOSHUA 7:1-5 (ESV)

7:1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.

2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, 5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Reading all of verse 1, who broke faith in regard to the devoted things—the people of Israel or Achan?
  2. What happened to the many soldiers after the writer’s exposé of the one man, Achan, in verse 1?
  3. What do you think is the connection between verse one and verses 2-5?
  4. In what way might your sin be affecting others? Do you need to come clean before the Lord? Is there anyone whom you need to go to for forgiveness?

RESPOND TO GOD

Verse one serves as an introduction to the story of an attempted conquest of a city called Ai: An Israelite man named Achan has sinned, he has broken faith, and no one but the Lord knows. Achan stole things that were supposed to be “devoted to destruction” during the conquest of Jericho. In his sin, he broke faith with the Lord and invited destruction and trouble amongst all the people. Our sin never affects just ourselves. Our sin is never secret. Our sin is always destructive. But take heart and hope, fellow sinner, with this redemptive good news: “For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many” (Romans 5:15).

  • Pray that the Holy Spirit would show you if there are any areas of your life where you are “breaking faith” with him. If so, confess, repent, and return to your gracious Redeemer.