08/21/2008
Joshua 7:1 - 5 (HCSB) 1The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and the LORD’s anger burned against the Israelites.
2Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and scout the land.” So the men went up and scouted Ai. 3After returning to Joshua they reported to him, “Don’t send all the people, but send about 2,000 or 3,000 men to attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, don’t wear out all our people there.” 4So about 3,000 men went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. 5The men of Ai struck down about 36 of them and chased them from outside the gate to the quarries, striking them down on the descent. As a result, the people’s hearts melted and became like water.
Joshua 7:19 - 21 (HCSB) 19So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you, tell me what you have done. Don’t hide anything from me.”
20Achan replied to Joshua, “It is true. I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: 21When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Babylon, 200 silver shekels, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, I coveted them and took them. You can see for yourself. They are concealed in the ground inside my tent, with the money under the cloak.”
Joshua 7:25 - 26 (HCSB) 25Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? Today the LORD will trouble you!” So all Israel stoned him to death. They burned their bodies, threw stones on them, 26and raised over him a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.
===
Before the miraculous conquest of Jericho, the people were given strict instructions not to loot anything from the city: the spoils belonged to God. Anything from the remaining cities could be taken as spoils for the people, but not Jericho.
So why was Jericho singled out? As the first city west of the Jordan, it was the “first fruits” of the land – and the first produce of everything belongs to God. The firstborn of each animal, the first harvest of any agriculture, even the firstborn son of every family was dedicated to the Lord.
So when Achan took just a little of the spoils, he brought great sorrow on all the people. As the army moved to overtake the second city, Ai, the spies reported that this city would be easy pickin’s because of it’s small size. They only sent 3,000 soldiers (as opposed to the tens of thousands in the army). But since God’s hand was not with them, they were whipped like rabid dogs and driven back. The defeat was humiliating.
Joshua, knowing something was wrong, brings the people together and God tells him which klan, tribe, and family is at fault. Achan admits his guilt and he and all his family and possessions are stoned.
Our lives are a lot like the nation of Israel. There are times when we overcome trouble in our lives, but we choose to hold on to just a little bit of it. We feel like we can enjoy just a little bit of the spoils of this world and nobody will get hurt. However, that little bit can mean all the difference between a life in communion and peace with God, or a life out of control.
We need to search every part of our lives and when we find things that shouldn’t be there, we need to completely extricate them.
After Israel had removed Achan and his family, the conquest of Ai was swift and easy.
Our lives, too, will go much smoother if we completely obey God, keep ourselves pure, and live in His presence.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2008 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
Terms of Usage: This devotional may be copied or forwarded for personal use without permission, but must include the author, publisher, web link, and copyright notice. Use in another published work must obtain permission first.