After Joshua and the Israelites had destroyed Jericho, it was clear to them that God had been with them and that they were now invincible. As the land of Canaan stood before them, they couldn’t imagine a scenario where they could be beaten. Jericho was one of the strongest cities that they had ever seen, and would ever see, and that city fell before them to nothing more than a pile of rubble. What else did they need to know other than with God on their side, they could do anything and everything?!?

There was nothing that could stop them.

And they were correct, except that there was one among them who had been disobedient from what God had commanded them to do. Achan had seen the silver, the gold, and beautiful items from Babylon as they had gone in to destroy Jericho, and so he took those items and hid them in his tent for himself.

As Israel went out to fight against the next small city, the city of Ai, they were defeated. In fact, they were routed and lost several men. And what was the culprit? What was the reason that they were so soundly beaten? Was it bad military strategy? Too small of a force that was sent?

No, it was none of these. It was that Israel had not remained faithful to the Lord and his covenant with his people:

The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 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. 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.

Joshua 7:10-12

God’s covenant with his people requires that they also be faithful to the covenant. God will remain faithful. He will continue to be the God of his people and his people will continue to be his. However, as God made his covenant with Israel he said that they must obey him. They must do as he says. They must follow his law, his ways. Not their own, but his.

This is the reason that the Israelites were defeated. They didn’t remain faithful to God’s word, to his covenant.

We cannot dictate to God the way in which he will be our God and we will be his people. We cannot come to him on our terms. No, he is the king. He is the creator. He is the one who rules and reigns over all of the universe. The Israelites learned this lesson that day, and even the sin of one man caused him to lose his own life and cost the nation of Israel the lives of several others as well as they went to war with Ai in the midst of even one of them being disobedient to the Lord who was leading them.

It is important to remember that we also live under a covenant. Jesus made a new covenant with his people, that through his blood we can be forgiven of our sins. Those that place their faith in Christ can be brought into a right relationship with God. They can stand before God, having been reconciled back to him through the blood of Jesus.

In this way, and only in this way, can we enter into this new covenant. We come to God through the blood of Christ. Jesus is the one way, and the only way, that we can come to God.

But let’s be clear… Jesus didn’t just call us to put our faith in his blood. Yes, he has saved us from the wrath of God, but he also has called us, and continues to call us each day, to place him at the very highest priority of our lives. Just like the treasure in the field that was worth selling everything else to be able to buy the field. Just like the pearl of great price that was worth selling it all to buy the pearl. Just like the rich, young ruler who Jesus told to sell all of his possessions and give them to the poor. Christ’s calls us to run to him, to leave everything else behind. Nothing else is more important than our relationship with Christ. Nothing.

Jesus said that if we love him, we will obey his commandments.

And then he told his disciples to go and teach others to obey everything that he commanded them.

He wants his disciples to love him, to glorify him, and to teach others to do the same.

This is the life of a disciple of Christ. Not simply saying that you are a Christian. Not just going to church. No, it is a life that is given fully to Christ, that places him at the highest place, that gives him the love, honor, and glory that he deserves. This is the Lord that we serve and this is the life that he calls us to live for him. All of us…given completely to him…at all times.

In reality, nothing has changed. God expected his people, the Israelites, to give themselves fully to him, and in the same way, he expects us, his people today in and through Christ, to give ourselves fully to him. He expects us to live out his covenant and in this way he will be our God and we will be his people.