Joshua 7:10 -12 - 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.
The people had been warned to follow God’s instructions
carefully. Achan’s act of disobedience put around 3000 men in a direct path for
death. God could not go before them because
of Achan’s sin. So all of them died…losing
their second battle meant to take more of the land God had promised them.
Joshua did the only thing he knew to do. He fell before the
ark ...tore his clothes in humility ..and cried out to God. He was confused…discouraged…letting his mind
wonder why God had even brought them there. God told him to stand up…then told Joshua
about the great sin that had made him leave their side for this battle.
Each tribe was escorted in front of Joshua…clan by clan...and
asked what sin they had committed…till the tribe of Judah…and the clan of Achan
stood before him. Achan admitted his sin quickly...and God’s instructions to
purge all sin from within the people were carried out swiftly. All that he had… family and livestock… were
stoned to death.
What a stark reminder of what sin can do to our lives if
left unchecked. We may not have to worry
about being stoned…but sin will eventually destroy our whole family if left
unrepented and purged from our lives. All sin will be judged by God someday…and
cost us something in the end.
I may have purged intentional sins like Achan’s from my life…but
I will always need a reminder to keep my heart ever tuned to God to identify unintentional
sins. Those are the sins that creep
slowly into our lives because we have let the world influence us more than God’s
word. If God brings one to my heart…I
had better fall on my knees like Joshua and ask God to help me remove it before
it affects my relationship with God.
Thank you Lord for the reminder that sin separates my heart
from the one source that can keep me living a fulfilling life in you. Forgive me for the times I have taken
advantage of my salvation in you and let any sin stay too long in my life. Help me to daily identify even the smallest
of sins in my heart and repent…so you can help me wash it completely out of my
life. Then help me fill the space it
took in my heart with something that you can use to make me a better servant
for you. Amen.
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