------------------------------------------------------------------ Joshua E-Mail Bible Study ------------------------------------------------------------------ Lesson 5 - Joshua 7 - 9 SIN IN THE CAMP Suffering for the sin of another in the body ------------------------------------------------------------------ We're going to spend just a single week on these three chapters to touch some high points, so please hold onto your hats and scramble to keep up. But we can't leave it out of our study. The truths are just too important for us miss. (We'll try to spend two weeks each on our final two lessons and finish by December 4, so we don't extend this study into the Christmas season.) We spent considerable time in Lesson 4 understanding what the "devoted things" entailed, so we won't go over that again. MONDAY AND TUESDAY, November 2-3 -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ LEVELS 1 AND 2: OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.1 (7:6-9) What is Joshua's reaction to the Israelites' defeat at Ai? What does this say about his faith? The Lord rebukes him (7:10-11). Is Joshua worthy of rebuke here? COMMENT: The concept of solidarity in Joshua 7 is terribly difficult for individualistic Americans to understand, but much easier for cultures such as those of Japan. (For some NT parallels to this concept of solidarity, see Romans 5:12-21 and 1 Corinthians 12). 2.2 The Lord considered that the whole nation had sinned (7:11) when a single man had sinned. What is going on here? Why does the sin of one man affect the whole nation? COMMENT: In 7:14-18 the guilty party is apparently found out by means of the Urim and Thumim, in some kind of sacred casting of lots to determine God's will. We're just speculating here, but if you have a pair of two sided lots, each with a "Yes" on one side and "No" on the other, you can get three answers when casting both: "Yes" (two yes's), "No" (two noes), and "No answer" (one yes, one no). For further study see my article "Inquiring of the Lord" (http://www.wilsonweb.com/archive/scholar/inquire.htm). 2.3 (7:24-26) Why do think there was such a strong punishment on Achan and his household? WEDNESDAY, November 4 --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ LEVEL 3: APPLICATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? ------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.1 To what extent does the sin of a single person affect a congregation? (See, for example, 1 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2:12- 29) What responsibility does the congregation have in cases such as this? In what way can the confession of a righteous man on behalf of a nation accomplish anything? (Daniel 9; 2 Chronicles 7:14). THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, November 5-6 --------------------------------- 3.2 EXTRA CREDIT. Church history in the past 500 years has seen a different reaction to sin in the camp -- division, separation, and estrangement (in the Protestant, Puritan, Baptist, and Holiness movements). Is this the answer? If so, where will it ever stop? 3.3 In chapter 7 the Israelites failed to take Ai. In chapter 9, they were deceived. Why do you think God allowed this to happen? What is the lesson here for us? ------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright 1998, Ralph F. Wilson, all rights reserved. Joyful Heart is a trademark of Joyful Heart Ministries. For reprint permission contact pastor@joyfulheart.com