LOSING DIVINE BACKING
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
TEXT: JOSHUA 7
KEY VERSE: (Joshua 7:12) Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
Today’s topic borders on the importance of having God’s presence as well as likely negative effects of God’s departure from a person’s affairs. God is deeply interested in everything that pertains to our lives, from our spiritual lives even to the smallest things that appear seemingly trivial, and nothing makes our journey faster and more organised than having God in the picture. In the given text, we can see that the Israelites embarked on a battle with the people of Ai. God had given them victory in their earlier battle against Jericho and it already became naturally expected that they would also thrive in their adventure against the people of Ai. Unfortunately, they were caught off guard as the people killed many of their soldiers. Joshua was devastated and he went before the Lord, who then told him to sanctify the people and fish out someone who had perpetrated an ungodly act by stealing some accursed items from the camp of the enemies (contrary to God’s instructions that they should not take the items and jewellery from the enemies’ camps). Joshua proceeded to do as he had been told, and Achan was singled out as the culprit. He was consequently stoned to death as a punishment for bringing evil upon the Israelites.
The second time the Israelites would embark on the battle against the people of Ai, they were already fortified spiritually, having already purged out the cause of God’s fiery wrath on them the first time. This goes on to further prove that once God is not in one’s venture, futility is inevitable. Talents, strategies, and dexterities do not amount to anything if God is not present. As a couple, every attempt to embark on a marital journey without the presence of God will ultimately backfire. As a student, every brilliance you think you possess may ultimately be subjected to satanic arrows, and you will be found wanting so far as God is not present. Absence of God in one’s affairs makes even the skilful become unskilled, the intelligent become a fool, and the bright become deluded.
FACTORS THAT CAN MAKE GOD WITHDRAW HIS PRESENCE IN A PERSON’S LIFE
- Disobedience: God loves obedience without any act of trying to prove smart. Once God gives an instruction, He will never go back to it again, no matter how you try to prayerfully coax Him to change His desire. If you then choose to disobey, He simply leaves you at the whims and caprices of your disobedience. The Israelites were sternly warned by God not to pack any accursed item from the camp of the enemies after defeating them. Unfortunately, just like the unfortunate case of Lot’s wife, Achan could not take off his eyes from the glitters of the land, and he had to disobey God, thereby wrecking havoc not only on himself but innocent Israelite soldiers who were slain in battle.
- Arrogance/Over-confidence: Sometimes, we get too comfortable and confident in our own abilities to an extent that we feel we no longer need God. It is not uncommon to hear some young men and women who had previously stuck with God earnestly and eventually made it in life. These set of people start coming up with demonic catchphrases like: “You don’t need God to be rich”, “Let’s forget about the God factor”, and many other demonic quotes from the pit of hell. The Israelites became so overconfident in their abilities. Joshua, in his usual military style, sent spies to spy out the land in a bid to ascertain their potential military might and the potential number of soldiers to deploy against them. They came back and said, “We don’t need much hands. Let’s go with just 2,000 or 3,000 soldiers.” At this point, they didn’t even wait to hear from God on proper guidance, like they did during their last battle against Jericho. Who knows if they had waited on God without merely trusting their own military might, the sin of Achan could have been revealed much earlier, thereby preventing the unfortunate death that took place?
SEARCHLIGHT:
God’s presence in our affairs is like a lamp. Without it, we will be in utter darkness, regardless of the nature of physical illumination that surrounds us.
PRAYERS:
O Lord, may I never lose touch with You, in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ.
BIBLE READING:
Jeremiah 7-9, Matthew 28
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
