The success at Jericho was supposed to have started a string of victories. At least this was what the children of Israel thought since God had promised to be with them. Even such a formidable city like Jericho, which was so well fortified could not withstand against Israel. Immediately after the victory, Joshua was quick to make them pledge that they would not try to refortify the city. Anyone who violates the oath would suffer the loss of both his first and last born. A person attempting to rebuild the city would have to do so against the will of God. And just as the Lord had promised that He would be with Joshua, He did. Soon Joshua was well acknowledged by everyone as the leader and his fame went before him far and wide.
However, not everything was well as thought. The first word "but" in Joshua 7:1 tells us that something was brewing underneath the surface. This connective “but” shows a contrasting situation. They should have grown from strength to strength and no one would be able to stand against them just as the Lord had promised. But unknown to them, there was a man by the name of Achan who had secretly violated the commandment of the Lord. Little did they know that this renegade had disobeyed and kept something from the ban for himself. Remember in Joshua 6:17-18, they were specifically told that the city would be under a ban and they were not to take anything or preserve anyone except for Rahab and her family. They were told not to covet the silver nor the gold, not even the articles of bronze or iron. Everything was placed under a ban and should belong to God. No one should attempt to keep anything for himself. So, Joshua 6:21 says the people utterly destroyed “…everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.” But Joshua 7:1 tells us something was wrong. God was upset with the people. What they didn’t know was that someone in the midst had put the entire nation in jeopardy.
This record of the sin of Achan underscores a divine principle as a warning to the church. As a family, the consequence of our wrong is never a private matter. Because we are connected to each other. Like it or not, the whole family will be implicated by one member’s sin. The person who sins becomes that weak link in the fellowship and opens the whole family to the attack of the enemy. First Corinthians 12:26 tells us that the flaw of one member of the body affects the entire family. It behooves us as a responsible member of the family to be considerate because what we do affects the whole spiritual family. All of us should keep a short account with the Lord. The sin we commit may seem well covered, but it has a way to be exposed.
This record of the sin of Achan underscores a divine principle as a warning to the church. As a family, the consequence of our wrong is never a private matter. Because we are connected to each other. Like it or not, the whole family will be implicated by one member’s sin. The person who sins becomes that weak link in the fellowship and opens the whole family to the attack of the enemy. First Corinthians 12:26 tells us that the flaw of one member of the body affects the entire family. It behooves us as a responsible member of the family to be considerate because what we do affects the whole spiritual family. All of us should keep a short account with the Lord. The sin we commit may seem well covered, but it has a way to be exposed.
We need to be aware that the consequence of sin is not just confined to the person who sins. It will impact the lives of the people around him or her as well. No matter how much we refuse to admit, all of us are guilty of the sin of Achan at some point in life. We need to know that there is no way we can totally hide or cover our sin. We must deal with it or risk affecting the whole body. Remember what Moses said in Numbers 32:23: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” So, please keep short accounts with God!
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