Joshua 7:6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
Joshua and Israel had just experienced an unanticipated defeat at the city of Ai. Consternation and disappointment filled the camp. Why? Why did the Lord let this happen? Instead of complaining and blaming God, Joshua and the elders humiliated themselves before the Lord, repented, and sought answers in prayer. Ripping the shirt, falling prone, and pouring dust were outward signs of inward penitence, sincere faith, and heartfelt seeking the Lord. Why did this happen, what went wrong, and what should we do?
God answered Joshua’s prayer, forgave them, and told them what to do. God hears sincere penitence and honest seeking. The answer God gave was not what he wanted to hear and he certainly did not want to stone Achan. But he obeyed and did what God said, and Lord granted great success afterward.
The lesson for us is clear: humble yourself, repent, and seek the Lord in prayer. Be willing to repent and let no unconfessed sin go unspoken. Then arise, believe, and go forward. Seeking the Lord in prayer is always a healthy response.