Key scripture – “That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies….” (Joshua 7:12).

Battle commanders want to know the vulnerabilities of their enemies. Companies want to know the vulnerabilities of their competition. We also need to know our spiritual vulnerability.

The Key scripture today is what God told Joshua when he attempted to go against a small army at Ai, which was the Israelites’ second battle after they went into the Promised Land.

Sometimes we try to figure out why we are not successful in an endeavor from the natural only. We look at all aspects of our performance to see what went wrong. Perhaps our strategy was flawed or our timing was off or we were just not convincing enough. For the people of Israel, it was not easily seen on the surface. Everything seemed just as it should be from Joshua’s vantage point, so when his army was soundly defeated, he cried out to God, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?” (Joshua 7:7a).

The people had been defeated because God could not bless them. One person had violated the covenant with God. God had told them that they were not to take any possessions from the first battle, but one person failed to be obedient and the whole army suffered.

“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. “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.” (Joshua 7:10-13).

Sin makes our armor vulnerable to attack from Satan, who then gains permission from God to attack us in the area where we have failed to uphold righteousness. If we break down in moral purity, Satan comes in and establishes a stronghold. If we give place to bitterness and unwillingness to forgive, we will break fellowship with God and others. If we become money-focused, we will fall into greed and deception. It is a vicious cycle.

Examine your armor today. Make sure you are not susceptible to attack. Confess your sin and turn away from it, and your chances of success will be great.

Pray this- Our Precious Heavenly Father, show me if there is a chink in my armor because of any iniquity in my heart or any unconfessed sin in my life, and I will confess it and repent and turn away from it. From this day forward I choose to walk in the Lord’s straight paths of righteousness, and walk upright and blameless. I know that the Lord’s path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. (Proverbs 12:28). I choose to listen to You, follow You, and be obedient to Your Word, as You lead me in paths of righteousness. By doing this,I choose life not death and blessings not curses. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.