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INTRODUCTION:

Let’s look at some background...

A. Joshua: His call and commission from the Lord.
1. Born a slave, he had now risen to become the leader of Israel.
2. Moses chose him to be one of the 12 sent out to scout the land of
Canaan.
3. Years later, Moses appointed Joshua to lead Israel into Canaan.
4. Joshua was then commissioned by the Lord to lead his people in
Joshua 1.

B. God kept his word, and under the leadership of Joshua, the children of
Israel experience victory after victory.

1. We read in the 3rd chapter of Joshua where God the Israelites come to
the flooded Jordan, and God tells them to carry the ark of the covenant and
wade out into the water, and as they did, the waters parted and they crossed
on dry land.

2. We read in the 6th chapter of the battle of Jericho.

GOD HAS BROUGHT THEM FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY, but now we reach a place where they suffer defeat.

In the 7th chapter of Joshua, we read that the children of Israel acted
unfaithfully. They got too big for their spiritual britches, and tried to do
things their way, rather than God’s way, and they suffered defeat.

They sent a few thousand to conquer Ai and they are soundly defeated.
Back at chapter 6:17-19. Joshua gave clear instructions, and fair warning, to all the Israelites about the plunder of the city of Jericho, which God miraculously delivered into their hands. In keeping with Jewish worship, the first and best were to be offered to the Lord, and that is why the plunder of Jericho was off limits.
Joshua had dedicated everything in the city to the Lord, and we also know from verse 1 of chapter 7 that Achan disobeyed. He sinned, and essentially stole from the Lord. But Joshua doesn’t know this yet, so he simply continues the conquest of the promised land, sending some spies up to the next city. They report that this next city is going to be a breeze, a cakewalk. "only send up 2 or 3 thousand men". But as we read, those soldiers were driven...