Through God’s guidance and their obedience, Israel conquered Jericho, but they were not done. Joshua sent a group of spies to check out Ai. When the spies returned, they reported that they thought they could conquer them with only a small battalion. However, unbeknownst to them, someone in one of the tribes had disobeyed God and had taken gold, silver, and a robe when they conquered Jericho. So when Jacob sent men to overtake Ai, thirty-six men were killed, and Ai chased them back home. Feeling defeated, Joshua and the elders tore their clothes and fell before the ark, crying to God to find out why. God told them about the accursed thing that was in their midst. After sorting through the people, God helped them determine that Achan was the culprit. He confessed what he had done, but that didn’t keep him from paying the consequences. Per God’s orders, they stoned him and burned his family and everything he owned. So, Achan’s one sin caused the entirety of Israel to fail. Imagine if you continue to excuse a sin or something you’ve failed to give up, or maybe it’s something you don’t realize you are doing or omitting. We must use Joshua’s example and ask God to help us identify the culprit of sin within us so we can deal with the issue, repent, and stop our disobedience. God does not play around! Today, especially since we are beginning a new year, start with a clean slate and pray for God to reveal any sin you may be holding onto that must be confessed and repented. When it’s revealed, ask God to forgive you. Jesus is faithful to forgive.
And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: Joshua 7:19-20
No comments:
Post a Comment