Jos 7:11-12 | KingComments | STEP | Joshua receives an answer while he is still speaking (cf. ; ). God tells him to rise up. The matter has become clear, as has Joshua’s mindset. Now is the time to act. God is going to reveal evil. The people have sinned and must get rid of evil from their midst. Sin is never just a matter for the person alone. If sin is not judged, it defiles the whole. We are not only dealing with ourselves. The Lord’s Table is precisely the expression of unity. Therefore, the evil must be removed ( ), otherwise the Lord can no longer be in the midst of His people. If they let the ban exist in their midst, God can no longer be in their midst ( ). Sin is present and therefore the power of God is no longer found with them. God cannot make Himself one with sin. God does not say that they will remain weak, but that Israel will not be able to stand before their enemies. This is a sad change, for God has said before: “No man will [be able] to stand before you” ( ). Removing sin means standing on God’s side in relation to evil. When that happens, the relationship between God and the whole is restored to its normal state.

‏ Joshua 7:11-12

The Answer of the LORD

Joshua receives an answer while he is still speaking (cf. Isa 65:24; Dan 9:20). God tells him to rise up. The matter has become clear, as has Joshua’s mindset. Now is the time to act. God is going to reveal evil. The people have sinned and must get rid of evil from their midst.

Sin is never just a matter for the person alone. If sin is not judged, it defiles the whole. We are not only dealing with ourselves. The Lord’s Table is precisely the expression of unity. Therefore, the evil must be removed (1Cor 5:13b), otherwise the Lord can no longer be in the midst of His people. If they let the ban exist in their midst, God can no longer be in their midst (Jos 7:12).

Sin is present and therefore the power of God is no longer found with them. God cannot make Himself one with sin. God does not say that they will remain weak, but that Israel will not be able to stand before their enemies. This is a sad change, for God has said before: “No man will [be able] to stand before you” (Jos 1:5). Removing sin means standing on God’s side in relation to evil. When that happens, the relationship between God and the whole is restored to its normal state.