“Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us?” This was Joshua’s cry to God in Joshua 7:7 NLT).
The Israelites had just fought Ai and suffered a humiliating defeat. But why?
God had made a covenant with Israel. So, in theory, they should have won. But that’s not what happened. Israel had sinned. One of them had not followed God’s instruction at the previous battle of Jericho. Achan had taken from the battle what had been dedicated to the Lord. This broke the covenant. God was now out of the equation. On top of that, no one asked God what to do concerning the battle at Ai. Spies were sent in and a plan was made, but God was not consulted. Therefore, in the end, Israel was defeated.
Joshua 7 tells us how God exposed the sin and commaned consequences for Achan and his family. Thus restoring the covenant between God and the Israelites. Then, in Joshua 8, Israel goes on to defeat Ai in a second battle.
We also have a covenant with God, and it is a new covenant!
Mark 14:24 says:
And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.”
Jesus came to take on the consequences of our sin and create this new covenant with us.
Hebrews 9:14-15 says:
Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.
The consequences for our sin (death) were paid once and for all by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for our sins. When we do fall short and sin, and we will, we must confess and repent [turn away] and God forgives. What a tremendous new covenant.
First John 1:9 says:
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
What a good God we have! He says to us in Romans 8:31b:
If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
I’ve seen God win so many battles in my life. I encourage you to trust Him so He can win them in yours!
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