Just Thinking 11
The second part of Joshua 7 verse 13 stood out in my mind about little things that can cause defeats in our battles of life.
Joshua 7:10-13 (NLT) says,
10 But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? 11 Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings.
12 That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.
13 “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord.
You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.
Joshua and his leaders were wondering before the Lord why a small army of Ai would defeat a large nation such as Israel in battle.
God rebuked them. He revealed to them that one of the people had been disobedient. By taking and hiding things that were either marked for destruction or dedicated to God. Those things became a curse as a result.
Until the people are cleansed and purified, and the accursed thing is removed, they can never win any battles or defeat their enemies. That is serious!
Final thoughts…
What are those things the Holy Spirit is pointing out to us for removal or convicting us of? Are there secret sins within us or things we are “hiding” from God?
We should get rid of those things, confess them, purify ourselves and be ready for victories in our battles of life!
Hebrews 12:1-3 says,
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
