Valley of Trouble and the Door of Hope

Sermon Preached on August 12, 2012.  Edited by Steve Fountain.

Good stories involve conflict, which is a pleasant word for pain.

What would stories be like without conflict?  Would there be any story if Snow White said no to the wicked witch’s apple? Would there be any story if Dorothy had obeyed Auntie Em, and went down to the cellar, instead of going to find Toto?

On a more serious note, think of the Story of Anne Frank who could not finish her journal because her family was discovered in the attic, or the story of the Missionary Jim Elliot who’s life was shortened by the point of an Auca Indian’s spear.

Think through the story of your life.  Have you had a conflict-free life? Some problems occur because of us, and some because of others.  Yet, regardless of who you are this morning, you have a story, because you have conflict. 

Look at the early days of Joshua's leadership.  The crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho happened with a seeming effortlessness.

Next up was a city of perhaps a thousand warriors — the little, walled fort of Ai. 

In verse 7:3, we hear the reconnaissance report, which also comes with a recommendation.  The spies recommend not sending all the people to take the city, and recommend taking the city with only 3,000 men because it is small. Really, it was a mercy of God to not allow the whole army to go, and risk the possibility of even greater casualties.  Of the 3,000 men who climbed the hill to attack Ai, there were only 36 killed (v. 5), just above 1% — a remarkable thing as it is. 

But what caused the loss?

God had stated that he owned everything in Jericho, and everything was to be burned, as an offering to Him. Yet, one man, Achan, opted to keep some items from Jericho, and went on to lie about it — breaking two of the Ten Commandments. His sin was made worse because it was directly against God, not man.  Achan says, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: I saw, I coveted, I took (verses 20-21)” 

Even though there is the real possibility of repentance, Achan could not escape the consequences of his sin.  Sadly, he had to suffer for his sin, along with his family.  I cannot imagine the horror of the moment, as the stones were lifted and hurled upon him and his family, and all that he had—for the desires of his heart—all for 200 shekels of silver, a bar of gold, and a fashionable cloak from Babylon. 

Although this is a story of judgment, it is also a story of hope, and the blessing that comes when sin is repudiated.

Sin does bring judgment, but God is able through the judgment to bring hope to all who turn to Him in repentance.  We cannot possibly overcome the weight of sin that we bare, we need God to bare it for us.  And he did.

Yet it is not enough to theorize about Calvary’s love, you must come and ask God for forgiveness.  He does forgive you, if you will repent.  God is the same, yesterday, today, forever.  God is a holy God, God loves his people, and god deals with his people consistently.

What are you holding on to? Are you holding on to a piece of cloth, some silver or gold? Or are you holding on to the One who made you, the One who loves you, the One who died for you, and the One who lives for you? 

John 3:16 “For God so Loved the World that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”