Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua Part 10—Four Stumbling Blocks to Avoid
How often following a great victory given to us by God, do we as Christians find ourselves most vulnerable to a disastrous failure? The same was true of the children of Israel as we read chapter 7 of Joshua. I do urge that you go and read the chapter in its entirety. They had been victorious against the city of Jericho by God’s battle plan. They had been commanded not to keep anything from that city except the Gold and Silver were to be tithed 100% to God. God was the victory and God was to receive all the spoils. He was providing for the nation all they needed and this was important that they not desire the wrong things nor forget that it is truly all about God first. So, here they stood fresh upon their victory over Jericho and they are ready to continue on and take the next area. They fail and they lose the battle against Ai. Why? I propose that there are four main pitfalls that the Children of Israel fell into which caused them to fail in their initial battle against Ai.
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The four stumbling blocks which often become our pitfalls following a season of victory are: Arrogance, Self-reliance, Self-pity, and Indifference to “little sins”. We must be very aware of the devastating effects of these four pitfalls in our own Christian Pilgrimage, as they also are the stumbling blocks we face particularly following a great victory.
1. Arrogance. Note that Joshua sent men to spy out Ai. They returned and reported “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” Joshua 7: 3 (NIV). There was no mention in this conversation about God going before them. There was no battle plan outlined by God. They were overfilled with thoughts of their own strength since the victory over Jericho. Have you ever done that? Have you ever marched on ahead without asking God to help or guide you because the battle just didn’t seem to be that difficult? After all, you wanted to show God just how good you could be on your own and make Him proud. How foolish a thought! I have been there more often than I wish to tell you.
2. Self-reliance. They had surged ahead without awaiting God’s command and without having taken the time to pray. Had Joshua taken the time to pray first, he would have known the sin from which they needed cleansing before they could be victorious. He would have known God’s plan for success, not man’s counsel. Have you ever relied on your own plan or the counsel of men instead of starting each day asking God for His Guidance? How often after a great victory, we fail to pray and study God’s word as we should as though we have already arrived at our highest destination in this Christian walk. We become lazy in our worship. The truth is that we need Him even more after a victory to protect our hearts from its innate self-exalting sin filled behaviors.
3. Self Pity. It was obvious that the failure began by Joshua not spending the time on his knees asking for God’s Guidance; yet, Joshua began the self pity chant after they failed in their battle against Ai. Read verse 7 of chapter 7 (NIV) ““Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?” Sound familiar? I know it is way too familiar within my own life. What about you?
4. Indifference to “Little” Sin. Until the nation deals with the sin within, God’s mighty power is withheld. The same is true in our own lives. We brush over some sins as though they don’t matter that much. After all, God understands and it’s only a little sin. Sin fragments our Christian life and certainly affects our Christian walk. So, we must get up from that pity party and deal with the truth. Look what God said to Joshua, “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them:” We must stop the excuses, stop the pity party, and stop blaming God for our failures. Get up, confess the sin, and destroy it at its root through your turning it over to God and then you can move on to the next victory. I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon and I hope it helps you as well.
“A little thorn may cause much suffering. A little cloud may hide the sun. Little foxes spoil the vines; and little sins do mischief to the tender heart. These little sins burrow in the soul, and make it so full of that which is hateful to Christ, that he will hold no comfortable fellowship and communion with us. A great sin cannot destroy a Christian, but a little sin can make him miserable….Christian, what hast thou to do with sin? Hath it not cost thee enough already? Burnt child, wilt thou play with the fire? What! when thou hast already been between the jaws of the lion, wilt thou step a second time into his den? Hast thou not had enough of the old serpent?” –Charles Spurgeon from Morning and Evening
So, recognize that these stumbling blocks of Arrogance, Self Reliance, Self Pity, and Indifference to Sin stand ever before us; particularly, after a victory. Be ready as a good soldier of God’s Army by being always prepared. Never forget the importance of steady prayer and reading of the word of God.
Listen to What If I Stumble by DC Talk
New International Version(NIV)
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© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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