Why Are You Not an Overcomer?

Why Are You Not an Overcomer?

When the enemy host marched against Israel, God did not count the children of Israel to see how many He had to meet the enemy. Not at all! He looked for those who were God-fearing and faithful, and with them the Lord could wage His wars and gain the victory. Even if He did not find more than one man, that was sufficient to overcome a thousand. The Lord always has victory in His hand, but He can give it only to those who have made a covenant to keep His laws.

When the children of Israel came into the land of Canaan, they were told to keep every law that God had commanded them. If they did, they would have success in all their ways; the Lord would be an enemy of their enemies, and no power could resist them.

One of the Lord’s commandments went like this: “And you, by all means keep yourselves from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.” Josh. 6:18-19.

Then the children of Israel went with faith and enthusiasm against Jericho. The walls fell, and the enemies were conquered just as the Lord had promised. The entire land was to be taken. When they were about to go up against Ai, Joshua sent some men to spy it out. They returned and said that it would be easy to conquer because there were not many people there. Then they went up against the city, but the amazing thing was that the children of Israel were put to flight, and several of them were killed. Then the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Josh. 7:5. “Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.” V. 6. “So the Lord said to Joshua: ‘Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.’” Vs. 10-12.

Now there was a commotion in Israel, and everyone was thoroughly searched and tried. Tribe after tribe gathered, and every man from the various clans and families was assembled until they came to Achan’s tent where the accursed goods were buried. Achan said, “When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.” V. 21. How foolish Achan was that he in his covetous desire had acted against God’s law and thus brought misfortune over himself and all of Israel.

Here we can see how carefully God watches over His Word and that He intervenes immediately. Israel was to have victory and good fortune on their side in all their ways if they did not take anything of the accursed goods. However, now there came an immediate end to victory and good fortune. The children of Israel could have continued year after year in their attempt to take Ai, but it would never have succeeded for them as long as there was something buried in the tent. But once the evil was cleansed out and the children of Israel were sanctified to the Lord, they could continue marching from victory to victory.

Many people say that they have tried to live an overcoming life, but that it is impossible. All of them have made the attempt but with something “buried in the tent.” The Lord never gave victory, good fortune, and progress to faithless people in the old covenant, but rather saw to it that they were thoroughly put to shame. The same thing is true today.

David sings in Psalm 32:11: “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” If we are truly pure and upright in heart, victory and good fortune will befall us on all our ways. Just as the children of Israel were chosen to gain the victory, so are we chosen to overcome each sin that tries to overwhelm us. Whatever is born of God overcomes the world.

Let us thoroughly search the tent of our heart before we go into battle. All of us have been in enemy territory and have been accursed with the curse, both we and our possessions. However, nothing is to be hidden and used for ourselves. We are to be sanctified to the Lord with our abilities, strength, and everything we have—we belong in His treasury. He shall use us according to His will. God is very exact when it comes to the accursed goods. Achan is an example of someone who wanted to use some of it according to his own will and desire.