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Sermon outlinE

Columbo and the missing detail

Jericho has fallen, Ai is next (Josh 7:2)

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Story begins on the heels of the Fall of Jericho.
               2. Spies sent
                  1. Ai’s importance (Gen 12:8)
                  2. Spies Direction (Josh 7:2-4)
                  3. Spiritual Lesson: Presumption is spiritually deadly. (Josh 7:5)

Joshua’s Response

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Mourn and Grieve (Josh 7:6)
               2. Prays (Josh 7:7-9)
                  1. He accuses God of evil intent
                  2. He assumes that they are now doomed as a people
                  3. He assumes that God can’t protect and preserve his name, but that He needed Israel to do that.
                  4. On all three accounts Joshua is wrong.
                  5. God is not a God of evil intentions but a God set upon bringing blessing to his people (Ex 34:6-7)

God’s Response (Josh 7:1, 10-11)

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Overview
                  1. First he tells him to get up and stop mourning.
                  2. Second, you have the wrong perspective because you are lacking a crucial detail, There is sin in the camp.
                  3. Third, he goes on to say, deal with the sin in the camp and then you will be able to return to enjoying the blessing of God.
                  4. Spiritual Lessons: Leaders must watch over their people
               2. Israel has sinned (Josh 7:1)
                  1. A part of a whole (1Cor 12:26)
                  2. Broke faith (Num 5:12ff, Lev 6:2, Ezek 14:13).
                  3. Achan’s family knew
                  4. Sin Defined (Josh 7:11)
                     1. First sin is a transgressing of the covenant
                     2. Second sin is defined as the specific act of violation
                     3. Lesson: Don’t ignore sin in self or other.
                  5. The consequences of sin are powerlessness in expanding the Kingdom (Josh 7:12)

What is the Hope?

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. From a human point of view, the hope for a different outcome resides in Prayer! (Lk 11:13, Jn 16:8)
               2. From a divine point of View, we need a better Joshua.