The Israelites sent out a raiding party to take care of a small number of enemies, but were soundly routed and retreated. Joshua was stunned by this defeat and sought the Lord for the reason, to which the Lord responded,
“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).
In this series, we talk a lot about purpose, creativity, and faith, but we can't neglect the fact that everything we talk about is based on holiness, which simply means being obedient to God's commands in regards to money, relationships, and matters of worship. And what's more, in this instance it was only one man's family who was guilty of the things the Lord identified as the source of Israel's defeat.
While you seek God's will for your life, are you paying attention to the ethical issues as well? For example, do you put in a full day's work even if you are self-employed? Do you pay your employees well and in a timely manner or submit to your leadership if employed? Are you behaving righteously in all your relationships? Are you truthful with others? Care for your family? These and many other of God's basic moral requirements must be obeyed if you want to have success in the areas of life that this study examines. Simply put, don't forget about holiness!
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