snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory

1. A Disobedient Soldier 7:1,20,21

2. A Defeated Army 7:2-5

3. A Discouraged Leader 7:6-15

4. A Discovered Sinner 7:16-26


I. A Disobedient Soldier 7:1,20,21A. The Sinner

1. Achan means “trouble”

2. Never minimize the power of one’s sin Hebrews 12:15 1 Corinthians 5

3. All of Israel had sinned ?

4. We are one Body in Christ, good & bad 1 Corinthians 12:12-26


I. A Disobedient Soldier cont’dB. The Sin James 1:13-15

1. Achan’s first mistake – He looked twice Matthew 5:27-30 Proverbs 4:20-25

2. Achan’s second mistake- He reclassified They were not “the spoils” Isaiah 5:20


B. The Sin (cont’d)3. Achan’s third mistake – He coveted

James 1:14 Achan was focused on self, not God

4. Achan’s fourth mistake – He thought he could hide from God Numbers 32:23 Hebrews 4:13


II. A Defeated Army 7:2-5A. The leaders were walking by sight and

not by faithB. Self-confidence leads to presumption

1. Isaiah 55:8,92. Proverbs 16:183. Isaiah 59:2

C. God dependence leads to God-confidence


III. A Discouraged Leader 7:6-15A. Remorse 7:6

1. Followed the prescribed course of action. Nehemiah 9:1

2. The ark reminded of God’s presence.

B. Reproach 7:7-91. Is Joshua blaming God?

2. Unbelief is content to settle for less.

3. What life does to us depends on what life finds in us. Jeremiah 17:5-10


III. A Discouraged Leader (cont’d)C. Repentance 7:8,9

1. Israel’s defeat had robbed God’s glory.

2. God’s “great name” is all that matters.

D. Rebuke 7:10-151. Israel sinned – to miss the mark

Israel had fallen short of God’s standard

2. Israel transgressed – to cross over Israel crossed the line God had drawn


IV. A Discovered Sinner 7:16-26A. The investigation 7:16-18

1. God knows……… and He knows us! Jeremiah 16:17; 17:9,10; 23:24

2. God’s method was orderly.

B. The confession 7:19-231. The truth - “Truly I have sinned”

2. The reason - “I coveted”

3. The proof - They dug it up


IV. A Discovered Sinner cont’dC. The judgment 7:24-26

1. Achan guilty by confession2. Achan’s family also guilty Deut.24:163. A reminder to Israel that obedience was

necessary. Stones a Gilgal – God keeps His word and

leads His obedient people to blessing. Stones in the Valley of Achor – God expects

His people to obey. Hope for Israel – Isaiah 65:10 Hosea 2:15


Lessons from Chapter 7

Lesson 1: We are vulnerable to temptation

after great success.



Lesson 2: Defeat can be turned into

Victory if we give it to God.



Lesson 3: The sin of one person can have

profound effect on a whole

community.



Lesson 4: God’s judgment is not to be

taken lightly. Even when we

confess, we still have to face

the consequences.

snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

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