WEBVTT

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 So our reading is Joshua chapter 7, and we'll read from the beginning of the chapter.

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 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things.

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 Achan, son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them.

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 So the Lord's anger burned against Israel.

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 Now, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-Avon, to the east of Bethel, and told them, go up and spy out the region.

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 So the men went up and spied out Ai.

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 When they returned to Joshua, they said, not all the army will have to go up against Ai.

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 Send two or three thousand men to take it, and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.

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 So about three thousand went up, but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them.

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 And they chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes.

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 At this, the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.

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 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down to the ground before the ark of the Lord remaining there till evening.

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 The elders of Israel did the same and sprinkled dust on their heads.

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 And Joshua said, 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?

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 If only we'd been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan.

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 Pardon your servant, Lord.

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 What can I say now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?

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 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth.

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 What then will you do for your own great name?

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 The Lord said to Joshua, stand up.

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 What are you doing down on your face?

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 Israel has sinned.

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 They have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep.

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 They have taken some of the devoted things.

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 They have stolen.

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 They have lied.

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 They have put them with their own possessions.

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 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies.

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 They turn their backs and run because they've been made liable to destruction.

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 I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

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 Go, consecrate the people.

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 Tell them.

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 Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow.

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 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says.

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 There are devoted things among you, Israel.

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 You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

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 In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe.

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 The tribe that the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan.

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 The clan that the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family.

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 And the family that the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man.

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 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him.

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 He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel.

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 Early the next morning, Joshua made Israel come forward by tribes and Judah was chosen.

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 The clans of Judah came forward and the Zerahites were chosen.

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 He made the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families and Zimri was chosen.

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 Joshua made his family come forward man by man.

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 And Achan, son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.

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 Then Joshua said to Achan, my son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honour him.

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 Tell me what you have done.

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 Do not hide it from me.

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 Achan replied, it's true.

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 I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel.

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 This is what I have done.

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 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them.

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 They are hidden in the ground inside my tent with the silver underneath.

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 So Joshua sent messengers and they ran to the tent and there it was, hidden in his tent with the silver underneath.

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 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.

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 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan's son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had to the valley of Ahor.

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 Joshua said, why have you brought this trouble on us?

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 The Lord will bring trouble on you today.

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 Then all Israel stoned him and after they'd stoned the rest, they burned them.

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 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.

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 Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger.

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 Therefore that place has been called the valley of Ahor, the valley of trouble, ever since.

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 So here we are in our story of Joshua, the book that's all about the God who saves.

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 But we find ourselves facing the justice and anger of God.

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 So what do we do with it?

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 What do we do with the anger of God?

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 Here is what Richard Dawkins does with it.

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 Richard Dawkins, who is no friend of Christianity, he says that God breaks into a monumental rage whenever his chosen people flirt with a rival God.

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 The accusation that Dawkins and others level against God is that he is impatient, he's petty, he's easily angered.

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 The judgment of God.

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 The judgment of God.

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 So we saw the judgment of God last week against Jericho.

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 This week we see it against his own people.

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 It turns some away from God.

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 They dismiss him as primitive or dismiss him as intolerant.

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 So how do we, as the people of God, how do Christian people begin to understand texts like this?

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 How do we respond to the claim that God is a moral monster?

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 So our plan is this.

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 First, we're going to look at the story itself.

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 Recognizing that this is a story that's both framed by and focused on God's holy anger.

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 And we can see that because, look with me at verse 1, what do we find?

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 We find the Lord's anger burned against Israel.

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 Go to the end of the chapter, verse 26.

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 Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger and right in the middle, verse 12, the outcome of this anger.

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 I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

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 So the anger of God is there.

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 Secondly, we're going to consider in more detail three crucial truths.

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 One, the nature of human sin, which is worse than we think.

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 We're going to consider, secondly, the reality of God's just anger, which is fairer than we think.

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 And thirdly, to recognize the hope of God's mercy.

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 That having done the previous two, it would seem more glorious than we think or could even imagine.

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 We need to let God's word determine our approach to this topic, to be humble and to be open to having our thinking corrected as we come to this topic.

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 But let's first of all look at the story, because this is a story of God's anger against sinful rebellion.

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 You can see it in four scenes.

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 Scene one, where God's anger is felt.

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 This is the first five verses.

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 Chapter six, Israel has been the agents of God's justice, delivering God's justice against the sin of Jericho.

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 But now the Israelites have been what?

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 Verse one, they've been unfaithful.

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 And so they feel God's anger.

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 Now, there's a marriage image here.

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 The people of Israel are in covenant with God.

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 Think of a husband who is jealous or angry at being betrayed or rejected.

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 Israel has been unfaithful.

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 And there's a corporate impact.

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 So we're told clearly from the beginning, Achan has sinned, but it's a spreading disease, sin.

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 The land has been made unholy.

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 The people have been made unclean and unholy.

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 And God is angry.

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 They attempt phase two of their conquest.

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 Jericho was a resounding victory.

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 A.I. looks easier, but is a resounding humiliation.

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 They run with their tail between their legs.

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 The cause of the defeat is clearly shown.

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 It's the Lord's anger that burned against them.

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 And the outcome, by verse five, is that the hearts of the people melted in fear.

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 Now, previously, that had been said of the enemy nations.

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 For example, in chapter five, verse one, when the Amorite kings and all the Canaanite kings heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan, their hearts melted in fear.

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 But now that's true of the people of God.

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 Now, it's very important for us to recognize that in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Bible is really clear on this,

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 if we are in Christ, there is no condemnation for us.

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 But when we sin, we will, as Christians, feel the fatherly displeasure of God.

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 We will lose a sense of his presence.

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 We will lose his smile, as it were.

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 And that is a huge loss, and the people of God are feeling that.

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 Now, scene two, the impact of God's anger.

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 God's anger causes confusion.

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 We see that especially in Joshua.

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 Joshua's response, verse six, he tore his clothes, fell face down to the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the elders did the same.

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 It's grief, it's mourning, it's lament.

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 He falls before the ark, he falls, in other words, before God in repentance.

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 And the elders, they do the same.

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 So Joshua understands God is judge, God has authority, God does what is good and right.

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 God has the wisdom to discern what's going on and to act appropriately.

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 God has the power to act and to execute judgment.

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 And that's what leads him to what we might call complaint or lament, like the lament psalms we looked at last year.

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 And these come within the context of this covenant promise.

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 So remember at this point, Joshua doesn't realise what Achan has done.

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 So in the context of the covenant, Joshua is confused and he's lamenting.

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 God, we expected this, we expected to receive and enjoy the promised land and life in your presence.

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 But we get this, we get humiliation and defeat, and they don't know how to process.

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 But what he does is he appeals to God's honour, to God's name, verse nine.

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 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth.

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 What then will you do for your own great name?

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 If the name of your people is dragged through the mud, if the people of God are destroyed, how will you receive honour?

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 And so he appeals to God's honour.

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 I find this is really helpful.

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 Maybe we find ourselves thoroughly confused by circumstances, current or otherwise, and we're not sure how to act.

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 Well, here's a good biblical response.

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 Come before God.

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 Lament.

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 As a child of God, I expected this, but here's this.

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 What will you do for your honour here?

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 It's a wonderful question to ask, a wonderful prayer to make.

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 In the next scene, scene three, verses 10 to 15, God's anger is revealed.

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 So remember, Achan said hidden up until this point, but verse 10, the Lord said to Joshua, stand up.

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 What are you doing down on your face?

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 Israel has sinned.

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 They have violated my covenant.

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 They've stolen some of the devoted things.

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 They've stolen.

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 They've lied.

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 They've put them with their own possession.

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 So here's the cause of the defeat now being revealed.

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 They have violated the covenant.

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 The people are entirely to blame.

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 God has been faithful.

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 The people have been faithless.

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 They've stolen.

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 They've lied.

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 They've coveted something that actually belongs to God.

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 Remember, this is direct rebellion.

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 This is robbing of God.

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 The last thing the people of God heard before going into battle, Joshua chapter 6.

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 Remember, this is devoted to the Lord.

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 We met in chapter 5, the commander of the Lord.

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 Do you remember that?

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 Joshua meets this most likely and appearing of God in human form as the commander of the Lord.

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 And Joshua says, are you with us?

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 Are you with our enemies?

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 And he says, neither.

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 I'm on the Lord's side.

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 So he'd been for them when they were faithful and obedient to God.

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 Now that they have turned their back on God, the commander of the Lord is against them in their sin.

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 We cannot presume on God's mercy.

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 In verse 13 to 50, we see the verdict.

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 The people are told that you won't be able to stand against your enemies until rebellion has been dealt with.

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 Until, in verse 15, whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire.

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 He has violated the covenant and done an outrageous thing.

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 And they're warned of the greatest threat of all.

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 That if they don't deal with this, verse 12, I will not be with you anymore.

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 The people of God would be without the presence of God.

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 This is serious.

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 But even in this, recognize this.

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 God is revealing his anger and the cause for it.

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 There's a glimpse of his mercy.

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 Why is this sin being revealed?

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 So that it might be dealt with.

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 So that God's favor might be restored.

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 God is revealed.

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 Some people in society, some people even in the church, have the notion that God will forgive me.

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 That's his job.

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 You know, we imagine mercy is our automatic right.

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 Or if it's just for the good people, well, certainly we're the good people.

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 And the justice of God shocks us.

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 According to the Bible, the truth is that mercy is optional to God.

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 Justice is what we deserve.

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 There is no one good, not one.

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 The real scandal is that anyone, Israel then, us today, that anyone is saved in the light of our outrageous sin against our perfect, holy, loving creator God.

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 Fourth scene.

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 Verse 16 to 26.

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 God's severe anger is displayed.

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 Verse 16 to 18.

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 The Lord is choosing.

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 Remember, the context is holy war.

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 The Lord arranges that Achan is taken.

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 It's like God captures him.

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 Achan is God's enemy by his actions.

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 And Joshua says to Achan in verse 19, give glory to God.

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 Confess your sin.

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 How does confession bring glory?

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 Because it reveals the horror of his sin, of his direct rebellion against God.

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 And it shows that God's verdict against him is justified.

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 Verse 22 to 25.

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 The verdict is passed.

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 The sentence is carried out.

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 Achan and all his are destroyed.

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 God's severe anger is displayed.

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 The outcome.

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 Verse 26.

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 The Lord turned from his fierce anger.

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 The people once more enjoy favour as they have dealt with sin in the camp.

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 If God is to be present with his people, if the holy God is to be among his people,

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 then that destructive judgment of what is sinful, of what is unclean, must take place.

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 And that's what we see.

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 One of the concerns of justice, one of the questions we ask is, does the punishment fit the crime?

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 And often if we're honest, we read passages like this.

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 God's judgment staggers us, perhaps shocks us.

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 Because we fail to reckon with who God is and what our sin is like.

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 And I think it also shocks us because our justice is inconsistent.

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 You know, sometimes, think about a family situation, sometimes we can be quite lenient or sometimes

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 maybe we can be lazy about discipline.

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 It feels like more hassle than it's worth sometimes.

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 Other times we're on full on, ah, Christmas is cancelled mode.

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 You know, it just gets too much.

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 And so we're inconsistent.

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 But that's not true with God.

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 God doesn't grade on a curve.

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 God has a perfect straight line of righteous judgment.

00:16:27.439 --> 00:16:29.299
 His standard is perfect and righteous.

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.819
 So he never condemns the innocent.

00:16:31.199 --> 00:16:32.719
 He never clears the guilty.

00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:34.979
 He is never too harsh.

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:40.279
 So we ask ourselves the question, was Achan's punishment wrong?

00:16:41.939 --> 00:16:44.319
 Was God unfair to Achan?

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:47.800
 We need to be very careful in how we answer.

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:51.220
 Careful so that we do not slander God.

00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:58.760
 Careful that we do not claim a higher standard of justice or wisdom than God.

00:16:59.640 --> 00:17:07.900
 And I think we need to look more closely at sin and justice so that we will also appreciate the mercy of God.

00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:09.560
 So that's what we're going to do now.

00:17:10.780 --> 00:17:15.440
 Let's consider the nature of our sin.

00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:21.660
 How does Joshua chapter 7 teach us about sin?

00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:23.480
 A number of things we can see.

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.540
 Verse 1, we recognise sin is not hidden from God.

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.019
 What have we got?

00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:29.600
 We've got Achan.

00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:32.280
 He's literally burying his sin, burying his treasure.

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:35.220
 But God saw and God revealed.

00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.639
 So we can wear masks.

00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:41.200
 We can keep up appearances before others.

00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:46.879
 But our hearts, they are not hidden from God.

00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:54.839
 Joshua 7 also teaches us that sin provokes God's anger.

00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:57.940
 Now you might have the question, isn't anger wrong?

00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:59.819
 Isn't anger unworthy of God?

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:06.559
 I recognise this is not like us flying off the handle, sort of exploding with steam coming out of our ears.

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:18.960
 This is, to use J.I. Packer's definition, God's anger is a right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil.

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:23.799
 God must react to evil.

00:18:23.939 --> 00:18:26.500
 We need a God who cares about justice.

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:29.439
 What else can we say about sin?

00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:36.820
 Sin is, to use the language of verse 11, is to violate God's covenant.

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:47.899
 So we need to recognise whoever we are, wherever we are, all of us live under the lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:52.220
 Now whether we like it or not, whether we're Christians or not, that's a reality.

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:55.240
 Jesus is king of kings and lord of lords.

00:18:55.240 --> 00:19:01.319
 And as such, we owe him covenant loyalty, obedience and love.

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:05.079
 Whether we do it or not, that's what we owe to him.

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:11.619
 And to fail in that is to violate the covenant, God's covenant.

00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:14.699
 What is sin in that context?

00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:18.159
 It's interesting that Achan recognises this.

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.740
 Achan replied, it is true.

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:24.240
 I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel.

00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:26.319
 It's David's confession in Psalm 51.

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:29.180
 It's you, you only have I sinned.

00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:33.180
 R.C. Sproul puts it so graphically.

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:39.900
 Sin is cosmic treason against a perfectly pure king.

00:19:40.820 --> 00:19:48.440
 An act of supreme ingratitude to the God who made us and gives us life and gives us everything

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:52.259
 and extends the offer of salvation to us in Jesus.

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:55.100
 Sin is treason and ingratitude.

00:19:55.099 --> 00:20:03.799
 And also, because we are created as God's image-baders, to sin is to slander our God.

00:20:04.939 --> 00:20:08.399
 We are presenting a false image of God to the world.

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:10.399
 We are saying, God is like me.

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:14.379
 God is sinful and he lies and he covets and he cheats and he steals.

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:17.019
 And he's wicked like I am.

00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:20.299
 So sin violates the covenant.

00:20:21.139 --> 00:20:25.079
 Sin also deserves destruction.

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.119
 That's the point of verse 15.

00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:37.000
 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed because he has violated the covenant.

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:41.359
 God is not cruel to Achan or to us.

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:45.159
 Achan knew he was robbing God.

00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:48.579
 Achan chose darkness over light.

00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:51.639
 Achan chose to reject his God.

00:20:51.640 --> 00:21:01.280
 If we choose to reject Jesus and his salvation, God is just in punishing us.

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:12.839
 When we consider the nature of our sin, surely the only proper response is to turn away from it,

00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:18.200
 to repent of it, to confess it to God, that he would forgive it in Christ,

00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:23.740
 that we would hate our sin as Christians, that we would battle against those evil desires.

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:32.640
 We would recognise that radical surgery is required to deal with this poison that infects everything.

00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:40.380
 And that sin would point us to our need of a saviour, to the good news of the cross.

00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:48.420
 We also must consider further the reality of God's just anger.

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:57.519
 Did you know that the Bible speaks more of God's judgment than it does of his love?

00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:03.460
 God as judge is a clear theme both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:06.860
 Think about some of the famous stories of the Old Testament.

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.940
 We've got the Garden of Eden.

00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:10.980
 There is judgment against sin and rebellion.

00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:17.519
 There is the flood as a response to everybody, barring Noah, turning against God.

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:21.480
 There is the judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt.

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:27.900
 There is judgment on God's people by sending them into exile because of their idolatry and disobedience and covenant breaking.

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.360
 And what about the New Testament?

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.680
 Remember what we read, Acts 17?

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:38.320
 The day of the Lord returning as judge overshadows the whole New Testament.

00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:48.120
 The teaching of Jesus, the parables of Jesus present him as the judge before whom people will stand.

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:55.240
 The one who can say, well done, good and faithful servant, or who can throw people into the outer darkness.

00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:59.080
 Jesus is presented as saviour and as judge.

00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:06.139
 And the big picture of justice in the Bible is that all of us, again whether we acknowledge God or not, all of us are accountable.

00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:10.140
 Justice, the justice of God will finally triumph.

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:15.480
 That those prayers and cries and laments, how long, O Lord, they will one day be answered.

00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:17.420
 That justice will finally be done.

00:23:17.520 --> 00:23:19.380
 That good will ultimately prevail.

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:26.520
 That God will establish a new heavens and a new earth that will flourish in perfect righteousness.

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:29.859
 God and his people there and no sin there.

00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:37.579
 History is moving towards that goal and God's will will be done because he is the righteous judge.

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:42.359
 All that to say to reject the justice of God.

00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:45.139
 I don't like this message of judgment.

00:23:45.699 --> 00:23:48.859
 It means we're going to need to start ripping out so much of our Bible.

00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:56.220
 And actually, if we don't like the message of God's justice, we'll need to rip out the message of the cross.

00:23:56.220 --> 00:24:03.000
 Where we discover the justice of God that doesn't fall on us.

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:08.600
 It falls on Jesus as he becomes sin bearer so that we might receive mercy.

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:14.420
 Abraham once asked God in Genesis 17,

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:17.980
 It shall not the judge of all the earth do right?

00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:21.500
 And the answer is a clear yes.

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:25.799
 Because for God to overlook sin, for God to overlook injustice,

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:29.640
 or for God to care about justice less than us,

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:34.359
 or for God not to care that his people are unfaithful to him,

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:39.059
 would lead us to have someone who's really no God at all.

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:43.099
 Our God is just and righteous.

00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:45.420
 So that Romans chapter 3 verse 19,

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:50.640
 As we stand before him, every mouth will be silenced

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:54.160
 and the whole world will be held accountable to God.

00:24:54.740 --> 00:25:00.420
 In God's courtroom, there is no miscarriage of justice that will happen.

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:04.360
 Standing before Jesus the judge,

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:07.019
 we can be sure that the verdict will be right.

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:11.860
 And we can also be sure there will be no defence.

00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:14.360
 We'll have nothing to say.

00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:19.539
 If we sin by rejecting God's salvation,

00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:21.259
 by rejecting God's son.

00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:29.700
 When we come to the issue of the justice of God

00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:31.840
 and we want to reject it,

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:35.640
 so often it's because our vision is faulty.

00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:41.240
 So that our concept of our sin

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:45.720
 and God's holiness and God's justice are too small.

00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:48.500
 We don't see them as we ought to.

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.920
 And on the flip side,

00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:53.120
 our view of our goodness

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:56.300
 and our right to mercy

00:25:56.300 --> 00:25:59.220
 are seen to be too big.

00:25:59.220 --> 00:26:07.279
 The last thing we need to do,

00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:10.640
 because Joshua 7 invites us to,

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:14.259
 and the flow of the Bible and the gospel invites us to,

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:17.720
 is to consider the hope of God's mercy.

00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:21.920
 We've seen the reality of sin

00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:26.019
 and we've seen the reality of God's justice.

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.420
 And we feel, I hope,

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:29.339
 that something of the weight of that.

00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:32.339
 But now we need to consider the hope of God's mercy.

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.600
 R.C. Sproul, again, in his book,

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.839
 The Holiness of God,

00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.919
 said a very striking thing.

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.039
 He said,

00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:39.539
 the Old Testament law

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:43.039
 is one of astonishing grace.

00:26:44.459 --> 00:26:46.159
 Now, if you've read the Old Testament,

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.659
 you may be thinking,

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:49.819
 how can we talk about astonishing grace

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.459
 in the Old Testament?

00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:52.099
 How can we talk about astonishing grace

00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.899
 in Joshua 7?

00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:55.500
 Well, think about this for a moment.

00:26:56.199 --> 00:26:57.299
 Think about the reality

00:26:57.299 --> 00:27:00.500
 that Achan and his family

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:03.699
 are not the only sinners that day.

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:08.299
 In the book of Ezekiel,

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:11.519
 the truth is revealed

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:13.299
 that the soul that sins,

00:27:13.880 --> 00:27:15.940
 that soul shall die.

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.740
 Every sin,

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:22.660
 every person

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:26.259
 deserves the sentence of eternal death.

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.740
 It is mercy

00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:33.519
 that it's only Achan and his family

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:35.259
 that are destroyed

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:37.000
 because all Israel

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:40.200
 sinned against God,

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:42.000
 just like all of us

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:44.220
 sin against God.

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.440
 Mercy, too,

00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.920
 is seen in Joshua 7

00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:49.980
 in that that destructive judgment

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.559
 that comes

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:52.900
 allows God's mercy

00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:53.700
 and favour

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.980
 to return to his people,

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.599
 allows them to enjoy

00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:58.440
 his presence once more.

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.759
 What's the goal

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.599
 of their salvation?

00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:01.799
 that they would be in God's place

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.339
 and joy,

00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:04.699
 God's presence and blessing.

00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:06.659
 That's our ultimate hope as well,

00:28:06.719 --> 00:28:08.000
 that we enjoy God's presence now

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:09.439
 where we look forward to it

00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:10.000
 forever

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.459
 in the new heavens

00:28:11.459 --> 00:28:12.099
 and the new earth.

00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:15.059
 So we see mercy

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:16.559
 being extended

00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:18.399
 beyond judgment.

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.579
 And it's even more so

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.879
 when we consider

00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:23.240
 the cross

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:25.159
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:26.719
 There's the ultimate hope

00:28:26.719 --> 00:28:27.879
 of God's mercy

00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:28.980
 where we also see

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.420
 sin being dealt with

00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:32.120
 and justice on display.

00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.120
 J.I. Packer

00:28:34.120 --> 00:28:36.000
 in the book

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.760
 Knowing God

00:28:36.760 --> 00:28:37.980
 points out

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:39.540
 that between us sinners

00:28:39.540 --> 00:28:41.380
 and the thunder clouds

00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:42.420
 of divine wrath

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:44.280
 stands the cross

00:28:44.280 --> 00:28:46.040
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.000
 The cross

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:51.180
 is the most extreme example

00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:53.420
 of God's anger

00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.080
 at sin

00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:56.080
 and God's

00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:56.759
 holy

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.700
 justice.

00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:00.600
 So what is happening

00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:01.279
 there

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.340
 at the cross?

00:29:02.820 --> 00:29:04.160
 We have Jesus,

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.600
 the perfectly

00:29:05.600 --> 00:29:06.340
 innocent

00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:07.480
 righteous one

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.880
 who willingly

00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:10.180
 becomes

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.960
 sin.

00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.460
 The innocent

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.580
 one gladly

00:29:13.580 --> 00:29:15.240
 for his

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:15.759
 people,

00:29:16.060 --> 00:29:17.000
 for our

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.620
 salvation,

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:18.940
 goes under

00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.600
 the just

00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.560
 judgment of God

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.319
 and as he

00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.440
 takes on sin,

00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.419
 as he becomes

00:29:23.419 --> 00:29:23.839
 sin,

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.879
 he becomes

00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.519
 a curse.

00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.500
 The Father

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.859
 cannot bear

00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.879
 to look at him.

00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:30.279
 Sin is ugly.

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.779
 Jesus has become

00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.919
 an obscene

00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:33.500
 thing

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.659
 in the sight

00:29:34.659 --> 00:29:35.759
 of his

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.759
 Father.

00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:39.139
 And Jesus

00:29:39.139 --> 00:29:40.339
 dies

00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:41.579
 in our place.

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.819
 Jesus dies

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.639
 for the ways

00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:45.200
 that you

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.019
 and I

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:47.299
 in our life

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.099
 we rob

00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:48.799
 God

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:48.839
 God,

00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:51.019
 by idolatry,

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.099
 by worshipping

00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:52.500
 and living

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:52.980
 for things

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.579
 other than

00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:53.839
 God.

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.180
 He dies

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:55.519
 for the way

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.119
 we rob

00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:56.599
 God of

00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:56.980
 worship

00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:57.419
 when we

00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:58.039
 worship

00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:59.000
 and value

00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.799
 and have

00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.419
 our priorities

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:00.980
 set by

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.339
 something

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:01.879
 other than

00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.299
 God.

00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:03.940
 Jesus dies

00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:04.480
 for all the

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:04.879
 ways that

00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:05.799
 we break

00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:07.000
 his commandments,

00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:07.659
 for the ways

00:30:07.659 --> 00:30:08.220
 where we

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:08.919
 lie,

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.659
 for the

00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:11.059
 things

00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:12.000
 that we

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.720
 steal.

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:15.039
 Jesus dies

00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:16.039
 for the way

00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:17.339
 we smash

00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.019
 his covenant,

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:18.819
 for the

00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.259
 treason

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.860
 that we

00:30:19.860 --> 00:30:20.600
 are guilty

00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:20.920
 of,

00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:21.579
 for the

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.059
 slander

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.579
 that we

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.200
 commit

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.819
 against

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.160
 God.

00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:24.839
 Jesus

00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.700
 becomes

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.400
 sin

00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.700
 for us.

00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.519
 And there

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.360
 on the cross

00:30:30.360 --> 00:30:31.100
 is revealed

00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:31.940
 the justice

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.779
 of God

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.980
 as Jesus

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.680
 is punished

00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.500
 for sin.

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.620
 But there

00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.640
 too is revealed

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.339
 the loving

00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:39.019
 mercy

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:40.259
 of God.

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:42.319
 as Jesus

00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.079
 comes as

00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:44.160
 a substitute

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:46.839
 taking our

00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:47.379
 sin and

00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:47.960
 its punishment

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.859
 on himself.

00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:50.319
 Jesus dying

00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.339
 as a sacrifice

00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:51.720
 that his

00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.259
 blood might

00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:53.599
 cleanse us

00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.279
 and atone

00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:54.879
 for sin

00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.980
 and forgive

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.759
 our sin.

00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.200
 So that as

00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:01.200
 we are aware

00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:02.240
 of the reality

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.799
 of sin

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.599
 in our lives

00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:04.319
 what do we

00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.240
 need to do?

00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.379
 We need to

00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:07.539
 run to

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.019
 Jesus

00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:10.000
 and put

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.680
 our faith

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.400
 and trust

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.240
 in him

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.460
 and to

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:13.839
 know that

00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:14.819
 in him

00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:16.539
 we enjoy

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.859
 the favour

00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:18.539
 of God,

00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:20.299
 the presence

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.160
 of God.

00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.319
 We know

00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:23.640
 that we

00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.160
 will not

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.940
 finally be

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.559
 condemned

00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:27.460
 by God.

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.480
 Let's

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.039
 return to

00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:30.359
 where we

00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:30.779
 began.

00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.859
 Richard Dawkins

00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:32.460
 had that

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:32.960
 put down.

00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:33.700
 God breaks

00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.140
 into a

00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:35.259
 monumental rage

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.240
 whenever his

00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:36.980
 chosen people

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.599
 flirt with

00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:38.059
 a rival

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.559
 God.

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.319
 what we

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:40.920
 learned

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:42.480
 as to

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:42.759
 what we

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.079
 should do

00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:43.319
 with the

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:43.700
 anger of

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:43.819
 God.

00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:44.140
 We should

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:44.539
 recognise

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:44.880
 that the

00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:45.420
 holy God

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.779
 has a

00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.099
 settled

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:46.500
 hatred

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.059
 of sin,

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.440
 that sin

00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:48.740
 is no

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.259
 small thing,

00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:49.559
 it's a

00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:49.839
 serious

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.099
 thing,

00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:50.799
 it's treason,

00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:51.599
 it's rebellion,

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.359
 it's slander,

00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:53.099
 it deserves

00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:53.539
 death.

00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:54.920
 We should

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:55.599
 recognise that

00:31:55.599 --> 00:31:56.059
 God has a

00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.880
 perfect standard

00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.579
 of righteousness,

00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:58.819
 a standard

00:31:58.819 --> 00:31:59.519
 we fail to

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.220
 meet daily.

00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:01.839
 And so we

00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:02.339
 should praise

00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:03.460
 God for

00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.140
 grace and

00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:04.960
 mercy available

00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:05.519
 in Jesus

00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.299
 instead of the

00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:06.880
 justice we

00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.319
 deserve.

00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:08.759
 that we

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.179
 would take

00:32:09.179 --> 00:32:09.439
 care,

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:09.740
 that we

00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.139
 wouldn't

00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:11.179
 miss out,

00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:11.960
 that we

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.980
 wouldn't miss

00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.759
 the warning

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.619
 in the story

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.139
 of Achan,

00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.099
 that we

00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:16.839
 wouldn't take

00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.720
 God's mercy

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.500
 for granted,

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:19.839
 rather we

00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.659
 turn to Jesus

00:32:20.659 --> 00:32:21.279
 and be saved

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:21.879
 and live with

00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:22.439
 grateful

00:32:22.439 --> 00:32:23.859
 obedience now

00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:24.519
 and forever.

00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:25.279
 God.

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.859
 In the

00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.200
 spirit.

00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:31.879
 Indigenous

00:32:31.879 --> 00:32:32.000
 telephone

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.079
 and

00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:34.000
 hearing

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.799
 and

00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.700
 those

00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.480
 things

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.619
 in the

00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.039
 beginning

00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:38.759
 that we

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.680
 are

00:32:39.859 --> 00:32:40.500
 on the

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.379
 goods

00:32:41.379 --> 00:32:41.779
 and

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.279
 our

00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:42.720
 ahead

00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:43.220
 and

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:43.680
 together

00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.019
 as

00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.200
 part of

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.220
 a

00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:44.799
 natural

00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.339
 oppure

00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.160
 we

00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:46.819
 can try

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:48.720
urger

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.000
 apart

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.819
 and

00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:49.920
 potentially

00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:51.920
 to

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.859
 the