Joshua was sorrowing over the defeat at Ai, bowed to the ground, and God told him to get up. Israel had sinned, and that is why they lost the battle for Ai. They took of the accursed things from Jericho and hid them in their tents. He oommanded that the accursed be destroyed. Joshua was ordered to rise up and sanctify the people. All the tribes would be brought before the Lord. A tribe would be identified, then a family, and then a household, until the guilty party was identified. Joshua obeyed God, and the tribe of Judah, the family of the Zarhites, and eventually the household of Achan, the son of Carmi was identified. Joshua asked him to confess and no longer hide his sin.
Achan confessed that he had taken a Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a fifty shekel wedge of gold and hidden them in his tent. Men rushed to his tent and found the items, and laid them before Joshua. Joshua took all the items and Achan’s family to the Valley of Achor. There the people stoned them and burned them with fire, and raised a great heap of stones over them. And the Lord’s wrath was turned. The place was called the Valley of Achor (Trouble) after that.
Joshua was dumbfounded that they lost to Ai. He was overwhelmed by the loss of men and the turn of favor that occurred after the defeat of Jericho. When things don’t seem to be just right, when it seems like the wheels are not turning well, or they have fallen off the wagon, search your own heart and life. When we operate in sin, the favor of the Lord cannot be fully poured out. Get right and God’s blessings will flow fully!
Devoted To You 