We have been considering keys to obtaining our promises in Jesus by looking at the Book of Joshua as they finally entered Canaan to obtain the promises for them that were first spoken to Abraham. In my last blog we looked at the fall of Jericho and keys for obtaining promises related to that conquest. I want to consider one more element of obtaining and maintaining promises as we end this little series.
After the great victory at Jericho, Israel was full of confidence for the battles ahead. Jericho had been the first, the greatest, and the most significant city in Joshua’s campaign to take the Promised Land from the foreign tribes that were living there. As a kind of “first fruits” of battle and the promises to come, God had instructed them to dedicate Jericho to him. They were to take no plunder and no slaves but to destroy and burn every part of the city. They would be allowed to take plunder from the remaining battles, but this first one was to be given to God as an acknowledgement that he was the one who gave them victory and as judgment on the false god’s the inhabitants of Jericho had worshipped for hundreds of years. They indeed destroyed the city, except for Rahab and her family, and prepared for their next conquest – the city of Ai.
Ai was a much smaller city with inferior defenses. Joshua sent men to scout out the city that was to be eliminated next and they came back suggesting that Joshua send only two to three thousand men to Ai. After the way God had given Jericho into their hands they thought Ai would be a picnic. The text says that Joshua sent three thousand men, but they were routed by the smaller forces in Ai and thirty-six were killed. The people of Israel were devastated by the defeat.
“ Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord…And Joshua said, ‘Ah sovereign Lord, why did you even bring the people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?’ … The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Stand up. What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant.’” In the ensuing verses, Joshua discovers that a man named Achan had taken gold, silver, and clothing from Jericho and had hidden the plunder in his tent. Because of his sin, God had removed his hand of protection from Israel so that they were defeated in battle. In addition to that, Joshua had not first inquired of the Lord to see if they should attack Ai. The Lord would have told him then that the covenant had been broken and they would be defeated.
There are several lessons in this for us. First of all, many promises of God are conditional. Under the new covenant, faith and faithfulness are required to receive most of the promises. In the New Testament, we see in the Parable of the Talents that financial success and favor are given when we have been good stewards of what God has already given us. Healing comes to those who have faith to receive it and the gift is given to those who believe God for it. Peter could walk on water as long as he did not take his eyes off of Jesus and his faith did not waiver. James tells us that we have not because we ask not or because we ask with selfish motives. We do not have to have perfect faith but we have to continue to pursue our relationship with God or the manifestation of the promise may be withdrawn.
Sometimes we are faithful until we receive what we wanted and then begin to act independently of the Lord as Joshua did when he attacked Ai without inquiring. When we begin to “maintain” the promise in our own strength, then the blessing of God may be withdrawn. However, we also see in Joshua 7-8, that once the sin was discovered and dealt with, the promise still stood and God once again began to give them victories.
The principle is that sin can hinder the promises of God being fulfilled – our own sin or the sin of others we are associated with. The sins of leaders in nations, businesses, churches, or families can limit blessings that could have otherwise come to those they lead. The sin of a spouse can hinder the fulfillment of God’s promises in the lives of family members. There is a way back to the promise through repentance but only if the sin is dealt with and repentance is genuine. Paul tells us that we must not be yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6) in marriage, treaties, and business covenants. Our salvation may not be affected by those relationships but our blessings, answers to prayers, and fulfillment of promises may well be hindered.
I am convinced that many of our prayers go unanswered and the power of God is not displayed because our churches have little regard for holiness. We live in the age of compromise and tolerance. Many of us have begun to tolerate in our own lives, our own churches, and society things that God’s word calls sin. When there is “sin in the camp,” everyone is affected. As individualistic Americans, we tend to view that principle as unfair. Why should the sin of others cost us? We need to remember that God makes the rules, not us. When we tolerate sin in our own lives or in our church, it may well cost us. There is wisdom in that dynamic, however, because if I know someone else’s sin will cost me or my family, I will encourage them to live for the Lord and seek holiness…for their benefit as well as my own. Of course, we have to guard against legalism and self-righteousness but Jesus was perfectly holy without being either of those. He accepted people where they were but did not leave them there. He was very gracious with the woman caught in adultery, but in the end instructed her to go and sin no more.
God has made many promises to his people and Paul tells us that in Jesus Christ every promise is “Yes” and “Amen.” He wants to fulfill those promises for us. When there is a problem in the fulfillment of a promise, the problem is not on his end. Of course, some promises are simply put on hold because of timing but we do need to examine ourselves to see if we are failing in one of the conditions of that promise. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there is something lacking or if sin is blocking the way. If there is, then repent and deal with the sin. If not, then keep seeking, asking, and knocking. Our God is a generous God who loves to give to his children and who loves to fulfill his promises. It is to his glory to do so.
