Joshua 7:19 NIVThen Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
I read this story in God's Word last night and it caused me to weep. A story many are very acquainted with including myself; it caused much sadness in me.
The most wrenching part for me this time around was the family. In my mind I could not help but think, picture, try to imagine how this entire execution, the removal of this sin was accomplished. The sadness, the ripping of one of their own; casting them far from themselves to the point of death.
If God were to shine his light among us, the people of God; what have we done that has caused reproach; has stopped the blessing of God from flowing or worst yet, what curse have we invoked upon ourselves?
The crime was theft; You shall not steal Ex. 20:15. A close look and in the light of all the plunder it seems petty; silver, a robe, and a gold bar vs. 24. The issue here is not the quantity, he also broke another commandment, you shall not covet Ex. 20:17. He disobeyed God's rule; what God has spoken for their own protection. The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord; keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them Joshua 6:17-18.
So many things went wrong. Sin lead to more sin.
Achan thought that God could not see below the tent floor; all that represented sin was buried in the dirt. Achan, God not only sees below your tent but he is able to see beyond your heart of flesh; the intention, the motive, the deception, the arrogance, the bowing down to another god--self. I could go on and on at all the the Lord ministered to me last night.
Here is the pain; in order to eradicate the sin from the camp Achan and his entire family died! The stolen items--gone....the cattle and everything he owned--gone, his wife, his children....all gone. I don't believe they all went willingly; perhaps their was arguments that erupted. The wife-- I did not do it, he sinned against God not me, let me live!. Children crying, probably very much aware of the imminent death sentence; the look of disapproval of their father; why dad....why? We might argue that perhaps the family knew, but what if they didn't. Everyone in Achan's family paid for his wrong doing.
The tenderness of Joshua was so eloquently written in the Word of God. “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” The leader of God's flock; please, please Achan; perhaps with tears in his eyes; please agree with God, confess, remove this stench from the camp. It smells like death. Please.....Our choices have ripple effects; this should cause us to tremble.
One more thing, what if when the Lord was getting close to him, tribe by tribe, clan by clan. What if at the genesis of the search; what if Achan fell and called on the mercy of God, what if confession was offered quickly not waiting until he was the last family standing if you will; would things have turned out the same; perhaps? We do reap consequences, but why continue to hide the sin if God already knows....why?
This was an issue of first fruits. First city to conquer. It belongs to God! Don't touch what belongs to the Lord....it has rippling affects. Keeping what belongs to God curses everything we have; it causes death. Our choices do affect our family!
Something to ponder: “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:8
God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com
