WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Let there be light. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.980 Our Father, as we look at your word together, we recognize that there are many passages, many stories that are difficult. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:44.320 There are hard things that happen. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:49.340 And we find it hard to understand it. 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:58.379 So we pray that by your Holy Spirit, you would shine your light upon your word so that we can understand it. 00:00:58.380 --> 00:01:01.480 That we can apply it to our lives. 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:05.260 Help us to see it as you see it. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:13.640 And that it would change us and transform us so that we become more like Christ. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:19.420 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:30.159 Well, this week, after 16 years on the run, Ratko Mladic was arrested and sent to The Hague. 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:32.879 That's the International Criminal Tribunal. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:40.520 Mladic was the Bosnian Serb Army Chief during the Bosnian War in the early 90s. 00:01:40.519 --> 00:01:43.879 You've probably seen the accounts on the news. 00:01:43.979 --> 00:01:58.560 He's being charged with extermination, murder and genocide for carrying out the Shrebshanitsa massacre in which 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:03.019 It was a brutal and violent act. 00:02:03.820 --> 00:02:06.359 Ethnic cleansing at its worst. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:12.020 And justifiably, Ratko Mladic is now on trial for those crimes. 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:15.740 And he deserves to be punished. 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:26.159 Now, as we read through Joshua chapter 6 and 7, we looked at chapter 6 last week, we can easily come to the same conclusions. 00:02:27.260 --> 00:02:29.540 Look back at chapter 6 for a minute. 00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:32.080 Israel have come forward. 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:36.439 They've come to the first city that lies on the edge of the Promised Land. 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:40.360 Under God's orders, they are told to attack Jericho. 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:43.080 Under God's orders. 00:02:44.040 --> 00:02:45.580 And we read what happens. 00:02:45.720 --> 00:02:47.160 Chapter 6, verse 21. 00:02:48.220 --> 00:02:56.300 They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it. 00:02:56.700 --> 00:02:58.520 Men and women. 00:03:00.880 --> 00:03:03.080 Young and old. 00:03:04.600 --> 00:03:05.600 Little toddlers. 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:06.980 Little children. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:09.000 Cattle. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:10.040 Sheep. 00:03:10.360 --> 00:03:11.640 And donkeys. 00:03:14.200 --> 00:03:16.240 Sounds like extermination. 00:03:16.820 --> 00:03:17.420 Genocide. 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:19.740 And ethnic cleansing to me. 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:25.480 And after that, we get to chapter 7 and we read about Achan. 00:03:25.880 --> 00:03:28.880 One of the soldiers who was involved in taking Jericho. 00:03:29.480 --> 00:03:32.100 And, well, he just took a few spoils for himself. 00:03:32.480 --> 00:03:33.160 A few goodies. 00:03:34.660 --> 00:03:36.560 Then look what happened to Achan. 00:03:36.900 --> 00:03:38.460 Chapter 7, verse 25. 00:03:38.460 --> 00:03:42.379 Joshua said to Achan. 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:44.360 Why have you brought this trouble on us? 00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:47.840 The Lord will bring trouble on you today. 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:51.759 Then all Israel stoned him. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:52.599 Then all Israel stoned him. 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:55.960 And after they had stoned the rest. 00:03:57.219 --> 00:03:59.560 The rest there is his wife. 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:02.939 His sons and his daughters. 00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:06.360 Presumably children there too. 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:07.620 They burn them. 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:08.080 They burn them. 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:12.800 Sounds like something the Taliban would do. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:14.640 It's barbaric. 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:16.500 And it's violent. 00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:23.100 On reflection, if Joshua were alive today, he would be hauled in front of the Hague. 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:30.920 In fact, there would be loud calls for God to stand trial in the International Criminal Tribunal. 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:41.720 As we said at the very beginning, these two chapters are some of the most difficult passages to come to terms with in the Bible. 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:48.040 But we mustn't confuse justice with violence. 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:55.120 This is not about a violent, sadistic God who unleashes his anger like a rat go maladage. 00:04:55.760 --> 00:04:59.460 No, this is a God who is taking sin seriously. 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:07.480 And is intent on dealing with sin and working his justice in a rebellious and a wicked world. 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:14.200 Now before we get stuck into chapter 7, let me just show you how this is true. 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:19.400 First of all, just go back to Genesis chapter 15. 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:24.220 Genesis chapter 15 verse 16. 00:05:26.580 --> 00:05:30.879 The context here is God has given his promises to Abraham. 00:05:31.640 --> 00:05:34.680 He's promised to Abraham that he's going to become a great nation. 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:39.100 He's going to have his own land where all his descendants will live. 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:41.920 And he says this in verse 16. 00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:47.180 In the fourth generation, Abraham, your descendants will come back here. 00:05:47.280 --> 00:05:48.680 That's into the promised land. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:52.879 For the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:59.560 Now the Amorites, they were the people who were living in Jericho. 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:01.980 The first city that they came and attacked. 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:11.240 And the time span between Genesis 15 and Joshua 6, where the battle takes place, is 600 years. 00:06:12.660 --> 00:06:17.819 Year after year, decade after decade, century after century, 00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:22.640 the sin of the Amorites has mounted up one on top of the other 00:06:22.640 --> 00:06:26.439 until God says it will reach its full measure. 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:35.000 Year after year, generation after generation, every child that is born grows up to be worse than his parents. 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:39.959 And the cycle goes on and on and on, century after century. 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:44.120 Finally, God intervened. 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:49.220 And he brought his judgment on a wicked and sinful nation. 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:51.820 And Jericho was destroyed. 00:06:53.520 --> 00:06:59.580 So this is not a mad general like God, wielding his power in acts of genocide. 00:07:00.860 --> 00:07:03.940 No, this is a God who is extremely patient. 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:06.960 600 years of patience. 00:07:08.960 --> 00:07:12.980 But nonetheless, he takes sin seriously. 00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:19.819 The second passage in relation to this is Deuteronomy 9. 00:07:19.900 --> 00:07:21.860 Go to that, Deuteronomy chapter 9. 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:31.720 Deuteronomy chapter 9, verse 4. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:37.580 You see, we could think that as Israel march into the Promised Land, as they attack Jericho, 00:07:37.900 --> 00:07:42.220 that in some way Israel are better than everybody else, superior, that they're good. 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:43.920 And God is pleased with them. 00:07:45.520 --> 00:07:47.220 And that they deserve the land. 00:07:47.580 --> 00:07:48.780 But this is what God says. 00:07:48.940 --> 00:07:50.340 Deuteronomy 9, verse 4. 00:07:52.140 --> 00:07:54.600 After the Lord your God has driven them out. 00:07:54.700 --> 00:07:55.880 That's the Amorites. 00:07:56.980 --> 00:08:00.380 After God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:05.780 The Lord has brought us here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness. 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:13.259 No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:18.919 It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going to take possession of their land. 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:24.500 But on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you. 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:29.819 To accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:35.159 Understand then that it is not because of your righteousness, because of your goodness, 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:39.279 that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess. 00:08:40.299 --> 00:08:41.799 For you are a stiff-necked. 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:43.200 You're a stubborn people. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:50.240 Yes, God uses Israel as an instrument of justice, not because they were superior, 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:53.100 but ultimately because of the nation's wickedness. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:57.160 In fact, later on as we read through the history of Israel, 00:08:57.620 --> 00:09:04.080 God would use other nations like Assyria and Babylonia to bring his justice upon Israel. 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:10.740 So this is not about a vindictive, violent God who is throwing his weight around. 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:20.759 No, this is a God who is just, who takes sin seriously, and he will deal with it. 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:34.840 The judgment that we see fall on Jericho is God's reasoned, fair and just response to ongoing rebellion and sin. 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:41.060 So when we get into chapter 7 of Joshua, we read in verse 1, 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:48.879 that the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things that were the spoils. 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:54.759 Achan, son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. 00:09:56.139 --> 00:10:00.460 So the Lord's anger burned against Israel. 00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:07.080 You see, we shouldn't be surprised if God gets angry with sin. 00:10:07.920 --> 00:10:13.160 In fact, given what's happened to the city of Jericho, we should be expecting it. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:18.900 And the big question for us as we look at this chapter is, 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:24.200 not why did God do this to these people? 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:30.100 The question for us is, why has God not done this to me? 00:10:31.580 --> 00:10:33.980 Why has he not done it to our nation? 00:10:37.140 --> 00:10:43.320 If God takes sin so seriously, why does it seem like that right now he's backed off from it all, 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:45.200 and he's not doing anything about it? 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:50.759 Well, we'll come back to that later on. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:54.220 But first of all, as we look at chapter 7, 00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:58.879 we're going to look at the seriousness of sin. 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:01.700 Firstly, the nature of sin. 00:11:03.520 --> 00:11:07.759 Most people think of sin as just simply breaking divine rules, 00:11:07.940 --> 00:11:09.240 but it's much deeper than that. 00:11:09.660 --> 00:11:13.120 Sin is ultimately seeking to live apart from God. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:19.320 It's about making someone else or something else more important to you than God. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:23.659 Look at how God views what Achan has done. 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:26.940 In verse 11 of chapter 7 of Joshua. 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:28.480 He says, 00:11:28.560 --> 00:11:29.500 Israel have sinned. 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:34.700 They have violated or broken my covenant, 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:38.080 which I commanded them to keep. 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:40.480 They have taken some of the devoted things. 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:41.320 They have stolen. 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:42.240 They have lied. 00:11:42.800 --> 00:11:45.640 And they have taken them and put them with their own possessions. 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:48.840 Yes, stealing was going on. 00:11:49.520 --> 00:11:50.820 Yes, there were lies. 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:53.140 But ultimately, he says, 00:11:53.260 --> 00:11:56.560 it was a violation or a breaking of God's covenant. 00:11:57.520 --> 00:11:59.840 Remember, God had rescued these people, 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:02.560 and he had committed himself to these people. 00:12:02.920 --> 00:12:03.840 He was loyal. 00:12:04.140 --> 00:12:05.060 He was faithful. 00:12:05.380 --> 00:12:06.820 He promised to care for them. 00:12:07.040 --> 00:12:08.680 He promised to provide for them, 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:09.879 to bless them, 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:10.799 and in return, 00:12:10.939 --> 00:12:12.079 they were to love God, 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:15.500 and they were to reflect God in the community in which they lived. 00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:19.399 They had everything they needed in a relationship with God. 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.019 So to break the covenant, 00:12:22.359 --> 00:12:23.639 to break that commitment, 00:12:24.859 --> 00:12:26.359 was saying to God, 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:28.919 I don't need you. 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:30.839 I can live without you. 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:36.320 Look at how all of this is unpacked after Achan has been caught. 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:38.580 Look at verse 20. 00:12:40.660 --> 00:12:41.639 Achan replied, 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:42.659 It is true. 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:45.340 I have sinned against the Lord, 00:12:45.439 --> 00:12:46.319 the God of Israel. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:47.860 This is what I have done. 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:49.919 When I saw in the plunder, 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:52.460 a beautiful robe from Babylonia, 00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:55.000 200 shekels of silver, 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:58.159 that's about five pounds in weight, 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:02.799 and a huge wedge of gold weighing 50 shekels, 00:13:04.179 --> 00:13:05.460 I coveted them. 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:06.720 I wanted them. 00:13:07.680 --> 00:13:08.860 And I took them. 00:13:09.800 --> 00:13:13.360 And they're hidden in the ground inside my tent with the silver underneath. 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:16.840 You see, 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:19.300 the sin is not just stealing. 00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:23.399 The sin is not just telling the lies. 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:26.740 It's a rejection of God. 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:27.660 It's saying to God, 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:28.620 You're not enough. 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:30.440 I need something more than you. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:33.440 I'm going to replace you with something else. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.240 So when Achan stole, 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:38.440 he was replacing God with things and possessions. 00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:41.300 When Achan told lies, 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:44.940 he was seeking his identity and his value outside of God. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:48.380 What people thought was much more important than what God thought. 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:56.500 Sin is making things in people more important to you than God himself. 00:13:56.500 --> 00:14:00.419 As one writer put it like this, 00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:03.659 All sins are attempts to fill voids. 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:08.039 Because we cannot stand the God-shaped hole inside of us, 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:11.120 we try stuffing it with all sorts of things, 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:15.139 which only God can only fill. 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:19.139 Now that's not only an offence to God, 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:22.139 the God who made us and the God who owns us. 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:29.319 Our sin actually destroys the community in which we live. 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:33.279 Replacing God leads to destroying the community. 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:37.000 You see, when we choose to live how we want, 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.139 we say things like, 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.779 Well, it's my life. 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:42.620 I'll do what I want. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.179 It doesn't affect you. 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:45.699 My decisions are my own. 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:48.460 But the truth is, 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:51.900 our choices have a huge effect on others. 00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:54.740 Look at Achan. 00:14:56.200 --> 00:15:00.040 He stole items which he buried in his own tent for a rainy day. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:05.120 But look what happened when Israel went out on their next mission. 00:15:06.040 --> 00:15:07.240 Back at verse 4. 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:11.759 They'd taken Jericho. 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:14.080 They were then going to move on towards Ai. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.480 And here we read in verse 4. 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:18.600 So about 3,000 men went up. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:21.660 And they were rooted by the men of Ai, 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:24.160 who killed about 36 of them. 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:28.240 They chased the Israelites from the city gates as far as the stone quarries, 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:30.540 and they struck them down on the slopes. 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:33.460 Why did that happen? 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:36.160 Well, we're told in verse 12. 00:15:37.520 --> 00:15:41.200 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:46.759 They turned their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:54.600 I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:58.899 You see, the principle here is that one man's sin. 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:01.759 Well, it's only me who did it. 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:03.220 It doesn't affect anybody else. 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:05.180 But it did affect everybody else. 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.720 It affected the whole community. 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.320 And that's the point. 00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:14.540 Our selfish choices have a profound impact on the lives of others. 00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:22.620 Go back to how we understood what sin is. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:27.179 How it replaces God with things and people. 00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:33.079 So if I make family and home more important than God, 00:16:33.219 --> 00:16:37.779 if I replace God and make my family and my house more important, 00:16:39.079 --> 00:16:42.679 then that means I'm going to care less for other families and their needs, 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:44.239 and that's what brings about poverty. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:50.379 If I make getting a highly paid job more important than God, 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:56.559 if money becomes so central to my life that I replace it with God, 00:16:56.699 --> 00:17:00.199 then I will think less of those who are so well paid. 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.959 People who don't have as much as me, 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:06.559 well, I'll just consider them not really anything significant. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:12.299 If I make finding a partner more important than God, 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:16.559 if I make my wife or my husband or girlfriend or boyfriend, 00:17:16.679 --> 00:17:18.480 if I replace God with them, 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:21.879 well, then I'm going to ignore other people 00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:24.279 and what their needs are. 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:29.059 And that's what's gone wrong in our society and in our culture. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:31.839 And you multiply that over and over again, 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:35.619 and we can see that when we replace God with things and people, 00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:38.799 we begin to destroy the community in which we live. 00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:40.720 We destroy our own families. 00:17:41.459 --> 00:17:43.299 We destroy our community. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:45.159 We destroy our nation. 00:17:46.639 --> 00:17:48.799 The slides that we saw there in Peru, 00:17:49.199 --> 00:17:50.879 why is there the poverty in Lima? 00:17:51.159 --> 00:17:54.919 Because people replace God with things and everything else 00:17:54.919 --> 00:17:57.419 and people get left out. 00:17:58.419 --> 00:18:01.459 People aren't treated like human beings. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:07.000 Sin affects the whole community. 00:18:08.659 --> 00:18:14.139 And that is why God is taking sin so seriously in this chapter. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:17.019 That's why in chapter 1, in verse 1, 00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:20.919 it says God's anger burned against Israel. 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:23.339 When Achan stole, 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:28.899 he was simply replacing God with things 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:32.540 and it affected the community deeply. 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:37.380 So that's the nature of sin. 00:18:39.300 --> 00:18:41.000 Then there's the problem with sin. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:45.960 It leaves us with two problems. 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.900 First sin is so serious, 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:51.380 it is always going to be found out. 00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:54.799 Achan thought he had done a good job, didn't he? 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:56.779 He managed to smuggle it back to his house, 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:57.539 to his tent, 00:18:58.140 --> 00:19:00.460 dug a hole and he buried the silver and the gold. 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:01.960 Nobody knew. 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.299 Nobody saw. 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:06.619 But God was aware of what went on 00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:08.500 and he sought to expose his sin. 00:19:09.419 --> 00:19:11.940 And you could imagine the tension in the camp. 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:14.119 We read about it in verse 16. 00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:18.099 It's all been made known to the community. 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.639 Somebody's stolen something. 00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:22.000 Well, who was it? 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.299 There were four million of them. 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:27.079 Well, you could imagine the tension. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.399 All the tribes were told in verse 16. 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.799 They all come forward, 00:19:32.399 --> 00:19:33.339 tribe by tribe, 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.960 twelve of them all together. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:39.539 And then they single out the tribe of Judah. 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.279 The others breathe a sigh of relief. 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:45.639 But there's still a lot of them. 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:48.559 So the clans of Judah come forward, 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:50.139 one by one. 00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:52.080 And out of those clans, 00:19:52.360 --> 00:19:53.700 the Zerahites are taken. 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:57.600 I wonder what Achan was feeling at this stage. 00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:59.500 Probably getting a bit sweaty in the palms, 00:19:59.620 --> 00:20:00.180 I would imagine. 00:20:02.540 --> 00:20:04.880 Then the whole clan of the Zerahites 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:07.300 come forward by families. 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.740 All the families are there, 00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:11.580 one by one. 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:15.160 And then the Zimri family are taken out. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:17.380 And they all come forward, 00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:20.720 reducing in number all the time. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.000 Achan. 00:20:24.760 --> 00:20:26.320 Think he's going to get away with it? 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:30.360 Then the Zimri family come forward, 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:33.100 each represented by the head of the house, 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:35.240 the man coming one by one forward, 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:37.120 each one going along the line, 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.680 not you, not you. 00:20:39.780 --> 00:20:40.140 Achan. 00:20:41.520 --> 00:20:42.600 Son of Carmi, 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.960 the son of Zimri, 00:20:44.560 --> 00:20:45.500 the son of Zerah, 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.700 of the tribe of Judah. 00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:48.860 was singled out. 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.660 What was Achan thinking? 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:56.520 Did he think he could somehow escape being found out? 00:20:57.600 --> 00:21:00.200 Did he think somebody else would cover for him? 00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:01.340 Not tell? 00:21:02.280 --> 00:21:04.460 Did he think God wouldn't take it seriously 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:06.060 and that it just really didn't matter? 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.240 Well, the point is, 00:21:07.320 --> 00:21:09.060 God does take it seriously. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:11.560 And no one can hide from God. 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:15.119 It makes us think how stupid we are 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.359 to try and hide from God 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:18.559 or pretend that it really doesn't matter 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.700 when I tell a porky 00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:21.960 or when I do something that I ought not to do. 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:27.639 Sin will always be found out. 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.299 And that's a problem 00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:31.220 because, second, 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.679 sin is so serious, 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:34.839 it will always be judged. 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:37.279 Look at verse 24. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:43.279 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, 00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:44.819 took Achan, son of Zerah, 00:21:45.179 --> 00:21:45.740 the silver, 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:46.500 the robe, 00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:47.399 the gold wedge, 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:49.000 his sons and daughters, 00:21:49.199 --> 00:21:50.579 his cattle, donkey, and sheep, 00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:51.079 his tent, 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.639 and all that he had 00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:54.459 to the valley of Achor. 00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:57.480 Which means trouble, by the way. 00:21:58.419 --> 00:21:59.679 He was in trouble. 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:01.779 Joshua said, 00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:04.060 Why have you brought this trouble on us? 00:22:04.820 --> 00:22:07.200 The Lord will bring trouble on you today. 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:12.180 Then the family were taken out. 00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:14.460 All his cattle, 00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.400 all his donkeys, 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.500 everything he owned. 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:19.380 And they stoned him. 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:22.660 And after they had stoned the rest, 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.779 his sons and his daughters, 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.700 they burned them. 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:30.900 Now we find this action 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.519 violent, don't we? 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.640 Barbaric. 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:36.299 Find it hard to read. 00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:37.860 Find it hard to stomach. 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.360 How could God, 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.100 a God of love, 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:42.900 permit? 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:45.259 How could God decree 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.960 that this should happen? 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.440 Now while these questions 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.340 are understandable, 00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:54.500 and I've gone over, 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.240 over, and over, 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:56.519 and over again this week, 00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:58.580 our questioning 00:22:58.580 --> 00:22:59.920 only reveals 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:02.500 our own attitude to sin. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.620 The point is, 00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:08.680 we don't take sin seriously. 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.799 That's why we think 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.380 the penalty is too harsh. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.319 The reality is 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.580 the penalty for Achan 00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:18.519 is so severe 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:21.860 because sin is so serious. 00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:25.500 And I think his family 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.399 are all included 00:23:26.399 --> 00:23:27.000 because, well, 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.959 they all lived in the tent, 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.240 they all knew what went on, 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.799 but they didn't say. 00:23:32.939 --> 00:23:33.819 In other words, 00:23:33.959 --> 00:23:35.500 sin against an infinite, 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.199 pure, 00:23:36.459 --> 00:23:37.479 and holy God 00:23:37.479 --> 00:23:39.459 has infinite consequences. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:43.900 And we find passages 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:45.160 like this difficult 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:47.100 only because we don't think 00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:48.420 sin is such a big deal. 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.759 We mess about with it. 00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:52.740 We play with it. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:54.079 It doesn't matter. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.840 God won't mind. 00:23:55.840 --> 00:23:59.019 Well, it does matter. 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.740 And God does mind. 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:07.079 And I guess 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.019 as we think about 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.720 these issues, 00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:09.599 there will be those 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.140 who will say, 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.440 well, 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:12.220 God's not like that anymore. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.339 That's the God 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.240 of the Old Testament. 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.799 We're in the New Testament 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.279 now and things are much better. 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.500 Things are much different. 00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.759 Well, it's true. 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.940 Things are very different 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.799 in the New Testament, 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:25.339 but not as we would expect. 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:27.839 In the Old Testament, 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:29.539 God's judgment is local 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:31.379 and it's temporary, 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:33.559 but when you read on 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.779 and you get to the New Testament, 00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:35.959 it becomes global 00:24:35.959 --> 00:24:37.740 and eternal. 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:41.419 God's attitude to sin 00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:42.319 doesn't lessen. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:44.019 It actually becomes greater 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.819 as you read on in the Bible. 00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:50.000 Listen to this, 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:52.099 how God's coming judgment 00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:54.059 on sin will be. 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.619 If you want to, 00:24:56.699 --> 00:24:57.299 you can have a look 00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:59.319 at Revelation chapter 14. 00:24:59.459 --> 00:25:00.419 If not, just listen. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.679 Revelation chapter 14. 00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:07.099 This is picturing 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:10.240 God's judgment upon the world. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:13.799 Revelation 14 verse 17. 00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:17.079 Another angel came out 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:18.199 of the temple in heaven 00:25:18.199 --> 00:25:21.139 and he too had a sharp sickle. 00:25:21.939 --> 00:25:23.299 It's a big sharp blade 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.459 for cutting things. 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:26.299 Still, 00:25:26.459 --> 00:25:27.220 another angel 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:28.919 who had charge of the fire 00:25:28.919 --> 00:25:30.319 came from the altar 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:32.000 and called in a loud voice 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.740 to him who had the sharp sickle. 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.899 And he says, 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.259 Take your sharp sickle 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.399 and gather the clusters 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.199 of grapes 00:25:39.199 --> 00:25:40.419 from the earth's vine 00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:42.339 because its grapes are ripe. 00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:45.579 The angel swung his sickle 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.119 on the earth, 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.419 gathered its grape, 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:49.480 threw them into the great winepress 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.359 of God's wrath. 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:52.079 They were trampled 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.000 in the winepress 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.379 outside the city 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:55.899 and blood flowed 00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:56.819 from the press 00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:58.139 rising as high 00:25:58.139 --> 00:25:59.459 as a horse's bridle. 00:26:00.179 --> 00:26:00.799 What's that? 00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.659 About four foot? 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.199 For a distance 00:26:03.199 --> 00:26:05.159 of 1,600 stadia. 00:26:05.439 --> 00:26:07.119 That's about 300 kilometers. 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.879 Quite gruesome, isn't it? 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:13.500 Yes, it's imagery. 00:26:14.340 --> 00:26:15.680 Yes, it's a picture. 00:26:16.780 --> 00:26:18.400 And the image here is 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:20.240 of in the past 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.780 when people went cutting grapes, 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:23.040 they would cut off 00:26:23.040 --> 00:26:23.960 the bunches of grapes, 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.060 they would carry them 00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:26.600 to the great big wine vat 00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:28.360 and they would put them 00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:29.120 in the big press 00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:30.020 and all the slaves 00:26:30.020 --> 00:26:30.960 would get up on top 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.260 and they would trample down 00:26:32.260 --> 00:26:33.020 all the grapes, 00:26:33.780 --> 00:26:35.480 squishing it all the way down. 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:37.400 And the juice from the grapes 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.599 would run out from holes 00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:39.200 in the bottom 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.839 of the winepress 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:42.180 and they would gather it 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.200 and they would make their wine. 00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:46.339 Well, the picture here 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:48.700 is of God's final judgment 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:51.480 coming down into the earth, 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:54.220 taking up all the peoples 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:56.640 because they are ripe. 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:58.000 Their sin has mounted 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.700 on top of one upon the other 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:02.079 and God has finally intervened. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:05.319 And they are thrown in 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:07.679 to this great big wine vat 00:27:07.679 --> 00:27:09.659 and they are trampled upon. 00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:14.740 So much so that the image here 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:16.599 is horrific and terrifying. 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:20.639 That their blood would seep out 00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:22.059 through the holes in the bottom, 00:27:22.419 --> 00:27:23.299 that it would cover 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:25.299 300 kilometers wide 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.839 and four foot deep. 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:30.000 Yes, it's a picture. 00:27:30.439 --> 00:27:31.539 Yes, it's imagery. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:36.259 But it's telling us loud and clear 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:39.240 that sin is a serious problem. 00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:44.279 And God will take sin seriously. 00:27:48.919 --> 00:27:50.079 But thankfully, 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:53.199 God has a solution. 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:57.379 Go back to Joshua chapter 7. 00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:59.740 I wonder, 00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.520 did you notice 00:28:00.520 --> 00:28:02.060 that when Achan sinned, 00:28:03.760 --> 00:28:05.780 all Israel 00:28:05.780 --> 00:28:07.200 were held accountable? 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.760 Look at verse 1. 00:28:09.840 --> 00:28:10.180 It says, 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.720 the Israelites 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:13.980 acted unfaithfully. 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.620 Achan, 00:28:15.840 --> 00:28:16.660 son of Carmi, 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.100 took some of them. 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:20.280 And in verse 11, 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:20.880 we read, 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.980 Israel has sinned. 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:24.740 They have violated 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.460 my covenant. 00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:26.900 They have taken 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:28.200 some of the devoted things. 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:29.279 They have stolen. 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.400 They have lied. 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.500 Quite clearly, 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:35.000 only one person 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.759 had stolen. 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.599 But yet, 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.480 God's judgment 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.220 was on the 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.400 whole of the nation. 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:43.299 There was a corporate guilt. 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:45.480 If one had sinned, 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:46.420 it was counted 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.200 as if they had 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.360 all sinned. 00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:50.079 Now, 00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:51.819 in our individualistic culture, 00:28:51.959 --> 00:28:53.059 we find that strange. 00:28:53.199 --> 00:28:54.519 We find it very unfair. 00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:57.119 But we must understand 00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:58.119 God's relationship 00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:58.879 to the people. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.179 Israel were called 00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:01.579 to be God's representatives 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.479 on earth. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:05.019 They were His image bearers. 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:06.439 They bore His name. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.399 They were to be 00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:08.319 a holy nation 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:09.240 amongst the nations. 00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:10.240 They were to reflect 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.039 God's character. 00:29:11.459 --> 00:29:13.000 As people looked at them, 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.859 they were to be 00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:15.399 everything that God was. 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:18.100 So when God saw 00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:18.980 one sin, 00:29:20.060 --> 00:29:20.680 it was like 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.640 the whole community 00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:22.220 had failed. 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.780 Sin was so serious 00:29:24.780 --> 00:29:25.840 that the threat 00:29:25.840 --> 00:29:26.620 of contamination 00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:28.380 of that kind of behavior 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:29.100 spreading out 00:29:29.100 --> 00:29:29.880 through the people 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:32.120 had to be dealt with. 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:35.280 In other words, 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.880 they failed to live 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:38.240 as God's people. 00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:40.660 And isn't that 00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.860 the sorry story 00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:43.600 of all God's people 00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:44.440 throughout history? 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:46.140 From Adam and Eve onwards, 00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:47.940 made in God's image, 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.240 made to reflect 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.039 His purity, 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.279 His character? 00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:55.240 But they didn't. 00:29:55.600 --> 00:29:56.200 They were shut 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:57.220 outside the garden. 00:29:58.580 --> 00:30:00.480 No one can represent God, 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.000 it seems, 00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:02.220 in all His perfection, 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:04.160 in all His holiness, 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:05.700 in all His purity. 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.620 There is no one 00:30:07.620 --> 00:30:08.680 who is without sin. 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.860 And we are all 00:30:09.860 --> 00:30:10.640 under God's 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.519 terrible judgment. 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:16.120 But thankfully, 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.460 God has His solution. 00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:20.220 God is a God 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.960 of justice. 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:23.180 But it is never 00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:24.360 at expense 00:30:24.360 --> 00:30:25.559 to His grace, 00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:27.100 to His compassion, 00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.500 to His kindness, 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:30.200 and to His love. 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.779 And God longs 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.460 for a people 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.720 who would represent 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.640 Him fully 00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:36.640 on earth. 00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:38.000 and in search 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.640 of a true 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:39.480 representative, 00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:43.020 He sends His 00:30:43.020 --> 00:30:44.040 one and only Son, 00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:44.860 the God-Man, 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.740 Jesus Christ. 00:30:46.020 --> 00:30:46.820 He is the one 00:30:46.820 --> 00:30:47.960 who stands in for us. 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:48.980 He is the one 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.700 who represents 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.540 for us. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.360 Almost as a reverse 00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:54.320 of Achan, 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.400 when we see all those 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:56.900 tribes come before God, 00:30:57.280 --> 00:30:59.020 and slowly but surely, 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:00.240 it all boils down 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:00.960 to just one. 00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:02.060 It's as if God 00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:03.080 looks across the world 00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:03.460 and He says, 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:05.100 who will represent me? 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:07.100 Not one person, 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.039 not one nation, 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.000 not one country, 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.720 no one. 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.720 Until finally, 00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:12.460 it comes down 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:13.140 to Christ. 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:15.380 The only innocent, 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.220 pure, 00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:17.400 perfect one 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:19.259 stands out 00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.620 to represent 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.779 the nations. 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.400 And as our 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.140 representative, 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.660 that means that 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.299 what happens 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:28.059 to Jesus 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:30.240 happens to me. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:32.660 Jesus so identifies 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.339 with us 00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:34.480 that my life 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.660 becomes His life 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:36.819 and His life 00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.980 becomes my life. 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.359 Jesus comes 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:40.799 and lives 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.779 the perfect life 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:42.099 for me. 00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:43.579 He lives the covenant 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:44.779 that I could never live. 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.799 He obeys 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:47.000 where I could never obey. 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.680 He lives the holy life 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.759 that I could never live. 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.200 But more than that, 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:54.019 He dies the death 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.440 that I deserve to die. 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:55.480 He dies the death 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:55.500 that I deserve to die. 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:00.620 You know, 00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:01.480 it wasn't until 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.920 Achan stepped forward 00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:05.200 that he admitted 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:05.859 his sin, 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:07.079 that he came clean, 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:09.480 that he was punished. 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:13.220 And then the judgment 00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.180 was removed. 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:17.259 One had to die 00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:18.180 for that nation 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:20.380 or they all would die. 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.339 Achan, 00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.660 guilty as he was, 00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.319 died 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:26.700 so that the many 00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:27.559 would not die. 00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:29.460 And we're told 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.559 in verse 26 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.480 of chapter 7, 00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.399 then the Lord 00:32:32.399 --> 00:32:33.440 turned from His 00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.319 fierce anger. 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:38.759 Isn't that what 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.639 Christ has done? 00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:42.359 Representing us, 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:45.000 treated as you 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.859 and I deserve 00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.639 to be treated. 00:32:48.419 --> 00:32:49.539 All our sin, 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.720 all our failure, 00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.419 Christ saying, 00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:54.539 I will stand in 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.000 for you. 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:57.579 I will represent you. 00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.980 And God's wrath, 00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:01.200 as we picture Christ, 00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:02.819 is poured out 00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.680 upon Christ. 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:06.720 He is trampled 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.559 on for me. 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.960 He is crushed 00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:11.000 for me. 00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:13.500 His blood flows 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.940 instead of mine. 00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:18.160 One dies 00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:19.900 so that the many 00:33:19.900 --> 00:33:21.119 would not have to die. 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:21.220 Amen. 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:26.240 God has not 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:26.900 stopped 00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:27.960 taking sin 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.759 seriously. 00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:31.019 We might think 00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:31.859 He's backed off. 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.619 He's not doing 00:33:32.619 --> 00:33:33.500 anything about it 00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:33.960 anymore. 00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:35.599 But He has. 00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:37.220 He's intervened 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:37.839 by sending 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:39.200 His true representative. 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.420 And the reason 00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:41.480 why we are not 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.480 judged in the same 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:43.140 way today 00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.420 is because Christ 00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:45.140 was judged 00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:46.019 for us. 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:49.759 and we can 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.660 run to Christ 00:33:50.660 --> 00:33:52.779 and find 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.240 ourselves 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.019 in the safety 00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:54.980 and security 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.879 of Him. 00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:57.779 Where His love 00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:58.579 is poured out 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.500 into our lives. 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.279 Where we are 00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:01.139 set free 00:34:01.139 --> 00:34:02.480 and given 00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:03.599 freedom to live 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:04.779 as His representatives, 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:05.720 His people 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.400 here on earth. 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.559 To change 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:08.039 the world 00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:08.960 in which we live. 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.579 To show people 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.280 where sin 00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:13.300 has broken down 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:13.980 society, 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.519 where it has 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.639 affected families, 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.599 and affected 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.299 one another. 00:34:17.699 --> 00:34:18.319 And we can 00:34:18.319 --> 00:34:19.339 talk of a solution. 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.119 We can talk 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.719 of Christ 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.719 who dies 00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:22.440 for us. 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:23.960 But who 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:25.059 changes us. 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.359 And creates 00:34:26.359 --> 00:34:27.119 His church 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.199 to be a new 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:29.460 community of people 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:30.440 who will live 00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:30.980 for Him. 00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:32.159 Who will reflect 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:32.819 Him in His 00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:33.980 society. 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.400 Who takes 00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.400 sin seriously. 00:34:38.859 --> 00:34:39.559 And will 00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.339 treat people 00:34:40.339 --> 00:34:40.940 the way God 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.639 has called us 00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.279 to treat them. 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.940 These are 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.920 difficult passages. 00:34:49.359 --> 00:34:50.199 But yet 00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:51.420 they remind us 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.759 of who our 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.420 God is 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:55.559 and all that 00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.119 He has done 00:34:56.119 --> 00:34:56.839 for us. 00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:01.039 Don't let 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.739 these passages 00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:02.379 go by 00:35:02.379 --> 00:35:03.259 without letting 00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:04.719 the seriousness 00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:05.460 of it 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:07.339 deepen our 00:35:07.339 --> 00:35:08.099 understanding 00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:09.879 of what Christ 00:35:09.879 --> 00:35:10.319 has done. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:11.039 let's pray. 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:19.160 Our 00:35:19.160 --> 00:35:19.780 Father God, 00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:20.320 we do 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.400 come before 00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:22.140 you humbly. 00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:27.119 in the silence 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:28.019 we confess 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.960 our own 00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.799 sin afresh. 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:36.460 We thank 00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:36.779 you for 00:35:36.779 --> 00:35:37.179 Jesus. 00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:39.799 That He 00:35:39.799 --> 00:35:40.460 was trampled 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.219 on for me. 00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:43.699 That He 00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:44.400 was crushed 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:46.519 for us. 00:35:49.819 --> 00:35:50.559 Thank you 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:50.940 that you 00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.699 have set us 00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.019 free. 00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:54.000 that you 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:54.339 have given 00:35:54.339 --> 00:35:54.920 us a new 00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:55.299 way to 00:35:55.299 --> 00:35:55.599 live. 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:57.920 Your 00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.339 people 00:35:58.339 --> 00:35:59.000 representing 00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.639 you here 00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.139 on earth 00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:02.099 help us 00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:02.519 to live 00:36:02.519 --> 00:36:03.059 well for 00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:03.279 you. 00:36:05.379 --> 00:36:06.099 We ask 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.440 this in 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:06.699 Jesus' 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:07.139 name. 00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:08.500 Amen. 00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.299 We're 00:36:13.299 --> 00:36:13.679 going to 00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.059 sing 00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:14.579 together. 00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:23.699 you 00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.179 to 00:36:24.179 --> 00:36:24.339 hear 00:36:24.339 --> 00:36:28.639 this song 00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:29.139 gives us 00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:29.739 an insight 00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.519 into the 00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:30.819 world 00:36:30.819 --> 00:36:31.279 in which 00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:31.779 we live. 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:33.559 The 00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:34.059 seriousness 00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:34.799 of sin. 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:36.079 How our 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.379 own 00:36:36.379 --> 00:36:36.920 individual 00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:37.379 sin, 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:37.839 not just 00:36:37.840 --> 00:37:07.820 Thank you. 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:37.820 Thank you. 00:37:37.840 --> 00:38:07.820 Thank you. 00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:09.840 Thank you.