Brief Summary
This Sabbath school lesson, titled "The Enemy Within," explores themes of inner sin, the consequences of disobedience, and the hope of redemption through Christ. It examines the story of Achan in Joshua 7, highlighting how his sin led to Israel's defeat and emphasizing the importance of personal sanctification and reliance on God's strength for victory. The lesson underscores God's fairness in judgment, the need for genuine repentance, and the possibility of transforming failures into opportunities through divine intervention.
- The enemy within exists both in our hearts and within the community of believers.
- Obedience to God's covenant secures victory, while disobedience leads to defeat.
- Genuine repentance and confession are essential for forgiveness and transformation.
- God offers hope and the opportunity to rise again after failure through His grace and power.
Introduction: The Enemy Within
The lesson introduces the concept of "the enemy within" in two ways: the fallen human nature within each individual, as described in Jeremiah 17:9 and Isaiah 64:6, and the presence of sin within the community of believers, exemplified by Achan in the book of Joshua. It emphasizes that only through Christ's grace, mercy, and love can individuals overcome their fallen nature and that the influence of sin within a community can defile it. The introduction concludes with a prayer seeking God's forgiveness, strength, and sanctification.
Memory Verse and the Key to Victory
The memory verse, Jeremiah 17:10, highlights God's role as a heart searcher who judges according to one's ways and deeds. The lesson emphasizes that military success depended not on their numbers, their battle strategy or their clever tactics, but on the presence of the divine warrior with them. Similarly, success in the Christian life depends not on personal strength or wisdom but on the strength of Jesus. Breaching the covenant with God results in losing the power to resist the enemy.
The Breach of the Covenant: Reasons for Defeat
The Israelites' defeat by the inhabitants of Ai was due to three major reasons: Joshua did not seek God's command before attacking Ai, they were overconfident after their victory at Jericho, and Achan's sin brought condemnation upon Israel. Achan had taken a Babylonian garment and other forbidden items, leading to the defeat and the death of 36 Israelite soldiers. Joshua's reaction involved tearing his clothes, falling before the Ark of the Lord, and expressing concern that the defeat would defile God's name and lead to further destruction.
God's Fairness and the Solution to the Predicament
Joshua calls all of Israel and as they come, you see it in Joshua 7:16-19. God's fairness is revealed through a meticulous process of identifying the guilty party, clearing the innocent, and showing that God's judgment is fair. The solution to the predicament involves narrowing down the corporate guilt from the entire nation of Israel to one tribe, then to a family, a household, and finally to an individual. This investigative process clears the innocent and reveals the offender, with God acting as an unseen witness.
Fateful Choices: Achan's Confession and the Need for Genuine Repentance
Joshua asks Achen to confess his sin and give glory to God. Achen admits to taking a Babylonian garment, silver, and gold, hiding them in his tent. However, this confession is not genuine repentance, as Achen could have confessed earlier to prevent the extensive investigation. The lesson emphasizes that Achen's lack of real repentance meant there was no atonement for his sin. It highlights the importance of confessing and repenting of sins now, before the final judgment, so that Jesus can claim us as His own.
A Door of Hope: Transforming Failures into Opportunities
Despite Israel's failure and defeat, God offers a door of hope, instructing them to go up to Ai again with the full army. This time, they follow God's instructions, and what was once a defeat becomes a mighty victory. The lesson emphasizes that God can transform our most abysmal failures into opportunities, picking us up and putting us back on the path of victory. It references Micah, stating that when we fall, we can rise again.
A Witness to God's Power: Sanctification and Victory
Joshua's concern was the glory of God. Before the great victory over Ai could take place, Israel had to sanctify themselves, seeking God and asking for His Spirit to purify their hearts. The lesson calls on individuals to sanctify their hearts, allowing the Spirit of God to cleanse them from sin and deliver them from evil. The takeaway is that in our own strength, we are defeated, but through Jesus Christ, we can be victorious. When we have fallen, we can rise again as God sanctifies our hearts.
