Yesterday's blog left the nation of Israel defeated in battle over the city of Ai. This defeat was because of Achan's sin against God. (Bit redundant. Isn't all sin against God?) Anyway. . .
The encouraging lesson from Joshua 6-8 is that after Achan's sin had been recognized and addressed, God told Joshua, "“Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Joshua 8:1 ESV God reassured His people that they were forgiven and blessings were once again coming their way. By the 28th verse, Joshua and his soldiers attacked Ai and "made it forever a heap of ruins".
The positive lesson is that once we confess our sin, God is quick to restore that relationship. The cautions are:
A. Not all the negative things in our lives are a result of sin in our own lives. Sometimes bad stuff will just happen regardless of our current standing with God.
B. Confession of sin and restoration of the relationship does not necessarily cancel out the negative affects of our earlier sin. The Israelites killed during the failed first attack on Ai were still dead. The soldiers' wives were still widows, their children still without a father. While God will restore the relationship, He does not change the past.
God does forgive. God does restore. But we must confess and correct.
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