That Is Why I Failed?

Joshua 7:11 – ISRAEL HAS SINNED; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.

Joshua 7:12 – THAT IS WHY THE ISRAELITES CANNOT STAND AGAINST THEIR ENEMIES; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

Failure is a bad thing. Failure leaves us feeling bad. Failure hurts. Failure disappoints. Failure is a setback. Failure can even be shameful and embarrassing. If we could avoid failure, we could.

There is inevitable failure. Failure that is not your fault. Failure because things worked against your will and beyond your ability. Failure that shows how helpless you are. Failure that happens after you have given your best efforts. Failure that nothing on your part could stop.

There is failure that results from our own mistakes. Failure that we can own up. Failure that can be explained. Failure that has a clear reason. Failure that could be avoided.

Joshua and Israelites faced failure. They had just defeated the largest fierce army of Jericho. They were excited and upbeat. The next army they expected to fight was a small weak army of a place known as Ai.

After some preparation, Joshua send a section of the army that they were sure would be more than enough for Ai. All preparations were in place and only success was expected. Unfortunately the people of Ai beat the Israelites in a very embarrassing way. Everyone was disappointed and ashamed. Why did they fail?

God appears to Joshua and in our text today He explains why they failed. God tells Joshua that Israel has sinned against God. The reason Israel is failing is because they have sinned against God. Sin causes the sinner to fail.

Achan went to Jericho and took valuable things that GOd had forbidden anyone and everyone from taking. God was angry. God refused to support Israel in their war against a small weak army. God’s absence in that simple assignment brought failure.

Isaiah 59:1 – Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

Isaiah 59:2 – But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

God is the source of all our abilities to excel. Sin separates us from God. Without God we fail.

John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.

When we sin and get separated from God, failure becomes guaranteed. When we sin and get separated from God any success we have is short lived. Without God’s help we are failures!

Some failures may be temptations by Satan to challenge our faith in God. Job suffered though he hadn’t sinned against God. Other failures are a result of our own carelessness and human errors. But many other failures that can’t be explained are a result of sin that has separated us from God.

Therefore the best way to address failures that we face is to restore our relationship with God first. Be a true genuine believer. Totally committed to God. Confess and repent sin. Secondly correct your mistakes that cause failure. Thirdly don’t lose faith because failure. Trust God even in failure.

Dear God, save us from failure. Forgive our sins that bring failures. Show us and help us correct mistakes that bring failure. Help us to remain faithful to you even when hurt by failure. When all is said and done May success be our portion now and forever, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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