SCRIPTURE: Joshua 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Achan replied, ‘It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath. [Joshua 7:20] Achan was tempted by worldly wealth, and he ended up messing things up for Israel. His sin had a collective consequence – as all sin does. Not only his family suffered, but also the families of the 36 men who died in Ai, and also the moral of the whole nation with their defeat. The ripple effect of sin is HUGE!
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’ ‘What is that to us?’ they replied. ‘That’s your responsibility.’ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. [Matthew 27:3-5] The Pharisees did not understand this collective consequence. ‘What is that to us?’ they replied. ‘That’s your responsibility.’ In fact, it was something to them. The consequences of Judas’ sin was misery for many, including Jesus. Fortunately, God turned his sin into mercy. He turned the tables on Judas and the Pharisees, and accomplished the salvation of the world through their sin.
Our sin has HUGE consequences, and many people suffer as a result of our greed, selfishness, apathy, disregard, cruelty, hurtful words, etc. How many people have we wounded by our words or actions, or lack of them? How has our love for money or things gotten in the way of our love for our family or friends or those in need around us? How has our worldliness been the cause of the weakness or decline of the ministry of Jesus through our church?
If we truly saw the ripple effect of our sin, we too would despair, like Judas. Fortunately we can see God’s mercy overcome our sin. We cannot be proud of our track records, but we can look with hope to God and His mercy. He brings good things out of our garbage. He makes straight hits with our crooked sticks. He takes what we intend for evil, and turns it toward good.
Yes, our sin affects many, but His grace abounds even more – beyond the affects of our sin. Thank God for that!
PRAYER:
Lord, like Achan and Judas, my sin hurts those I love the most. Thank You for overcoming my evil with Your good. Help me to strive, with Your help, to do as much good as I can.
This is a dreadful account of a situation I don’t believe we fully understand. I don’t believe we can fully understand the conditions of why the city of Jericho was cursed by God. Whatever occured inside those city walls must have been beyond our understanding of evil, so much so that God commands that every living thing must be destroyed and that no items should be taken except those elements of metals that could be refined in fire and redeemed for holy use in the temple of God. Just picture the sons of Israel going through this city in its burning fires and slaughtered persons lying all around … how could Achan even touch an item that lay beside these dead people. But the allure of “things” that have earthly value instead of the value of honour and purity blinded Achan.
The punishment of Achan is not so much a matter of a cruel outlash from God, but I see it more of a need to remove a deadly and demoralizing attitude entering into the camp of God that would have the potential of turning the nation of Israel into the same type of people as were the city of Jericho.
Do we realize how dangerous the reality of sin and our rebellious actions cause?
It reminds me of that movie, the Labyrinth, where the one character is led by the bog of eternal stench. One drop from the bog onto your body and you would stink forever… do we realize that if we did not have the redeeming work of Christ in our lives, our sin would have to be dealt with exactly as it was dealt with as with Achan?
It is a reality.
But sometimes as we live in the age of God’s grace we forget it.
We forget the price that was paid for us to have our “eternal stench” removed.
Parents’ influence. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree is a common saying or like father like son. Our influence upon the next generation is very great. God shows His love to those who love Him but He shows His anger to those who fall away – to the second and third generations who hate Him. How do I live this day in His servoce? How do those around me serving Him in what I do and say? Am I living according to His Word?
I need to LiveStong and be GodStrong. As parent and grandparent, my children need to see and hear what the Lord God has done in my life. I need to share HisStory from day to day so all may hear me say – Ebenezer – to this point the Lord my God has brought me! He is my guardian and Guide and Protector and I live each day in His presence and by His grace.
Help me Lord to be a living witness also this day.
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.
Refrain
Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
Refrain
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.