Joshua 7:1-26 | Ben Potloff | As Israel approaches their next adversary, Ai (not to be confused with artificial intelligence), all indications are that this should be a cake walk. Picture a sense of pridefulness and a bit of arrogance here. The recommendation is to only send a small squad, maybe the JV team (don’t bother the whole group with such a small town.) Then, something goes horribly wrong. What happened, why did it all go south? What can we learn from this defeat? What can we learn from Joshua’s response? What can we learn from the consequences of sin? Let’s explore Joshua 7 together and course correct where we see areas in our own life that might need transformation.

MAIN IDEA

Rebellion kindles God’s wrath.

OUTLINE

I. Secret sin is known by the Lord (vv. 1-21)

II. Sin must be punished to appease the Lord’s anger (vv. 22-26)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Read Joshua 7:2-5 Discuss some of the mistakes you can see that Joshua made.

2. Read Joshua 7:6-9 Discuss Joshua’s response to this defeat. Is this your 1st response when things go south?

3. Achan coveted the items, stole them from God’s treasury, then lied about it. He desired the things he saw more than God. How do we reverse that and desire God above all else?

4. Thirty-six fellow Israelites paid with their life for Achan’s sin. Discuss how our sin can have ramifications that affect many others.

5. Read Joshua 7:22-26. Discuss the final punishment that Achan, his wife, and his children were sentenced to. Discuss why God’s wrath, concerning sin, may be the most unacceptable of doctrines, in our time. Discuss why sin cannot be tolerated by a Holy God. Does this change your view on your own sin?

6. Finish by discussing the payment God made for our sin and how costly that was. Does that make you more thankful for not getting what we deserve?