omes the time of heart-searching. In our
story the combination of individual and united responsibility is very
solemn. The individual: as we find it in the expression, "man for man";
each man felt himself under the eye of God, to be dealt with. And when
Achan had been taken, he had to make confession. The united: as we see
it in all Israel first suffering and dealt with by God, then taking
Achan, and his family, and the accursed thing, and destroying them out
of their midst.

If we have reason to think this is the sin that is in the camp, let us
begin with personal and united confession. And then let us come before
God to put away and destroy the sin. Here stands at the very threshold
of Israel's history in Canaan the heap of stones in the valley of Achor,
to tell us that God cannot bear sin, that God will not dwell with sin,
and that if _we really want God's presence in power, sin must be put
away_. Let us look the solemn fact in the face. There may be other sins,
but here is certainly one that causes the loss of God's presence--we do
not pray as Christ and Scripture teach us. Let us bring it out before
God, and give up this sin to the death. Let us yield ourselves to God
to obey His voice. Let no fear of past failure, let no threatening array
of temptations, or duties, or excuses, keep us back. It is a simple
question of obedience. Are we going to give up ourselves to God and His
Spirit to live a life in prayer, well-pleasing to Him? Surely, if it is
God who has been withholding His presence, who has been discovering the
sin, who is calling for its destruction, and a return to obedience,
surely we can count upon His grace to accept and strengthen for the life
He asks of us. It is not a question of what you can do; it is the
question of whether you now, with your whole heart, turn to give God His
due, and give yourself to let His will and grace have their way with
you.

6. _With sin cast out God's presence is restored._--From this day
onwards there is not a word in Joshua of defeat in battle. The story
shows them going on from victory to victory. God's presence secured
gives power to overcome every enemy.

This truth is so simple that the very ease with which we acquiesce in it
robs it of its power. Let us pause and think what it implies. God's
presence restored means victory secured. Then, we are responsible for
defeat. Then, there must be sin somewhere causing it. Then, we ought at
once to find out and put away th