S10 || Private Sin & Public Shame || Joshua 7:13 - 8:35 || Session 10 || Verse by Verse Bible Study

The seemingly inconsequential decision of one Israelite soldier changed the course of an entire military campaign. After the magnificent victory at Jericho, Israel's army faced humiliating defeat at the hands of tiny Ai—all because Achan quietly tucked away some prohibited spoils of war in his tent.

This powerful episode of Reasoning Through the Bible explores Joshua Chapters 7 and 8, uncovering the ripple effects of hidden sin. We examine how Achan's private disobedience paralyzed an entire nation, challenging the modern notion that personal sin only affects the individual. The biblical account reveals a different truth: there are no victimless spiritual crimes.

We dive into the fascinating process of public accountability portrayed in this passage. While Scripture often directs private confrontation first, this situation required public exposure. Looking at other biblical examples from Paul's letters and Jesus' teaching, we consider when today's church should address sin privately versus publicly—a challenge requiring wisdom and discernment.

The confession of Achan follows a universal pattern of temptation: "I saw, I coveted, I took." This mirrors Eve's experience in Eden and appears throughout Scripture, revealing how sin progresses from visual exposure to internal desire to outward action. Understanding this pattern helps us establish spiritual safeguards in our own lives.

After purging sin from their midst, Israel returns to battle and achieves victory. Joshua follows this success by building an altar of uncut stones and reading the entire Law to everyone present—men, women, children, and foreigners. The specifications for unadorned stones prevented the focus from shifting to human craftsmanship, while the comprehensive Scripture reading demonstrates the centrality of God's Word in spiritual formation.

How might your private compromises be affecting your spiritual community? What areas of disobedience might be hindering God's work in your life? Join us as we discover how returning to God's Word and removing spiritual stumbling blocks can restore divine favor and spiritual victory.

Questions in this session:  

• When there is sin in our midst, do we deal with it publicly or privately? 
• What is the process for how to deal with sin in the congregation? 
• Is it OK to build large impressive religious buildings? 
• What does Joshua do to remind Israel of God’s commands?  

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