May 12, 2010
Joshua 7:1 - "But the Israelites did not obey the LORD."
Achan disobeyed God's instructions. The Israelites were totally unaware of Achan's hidden sin, but because of Achan's disobedience, the entire tribe of Israel paid the price for it. Joshua 7:1 doesn't say Achan sinned, it says the Israelites didn't obey. Achan took for himself what belonged to God and the entire group of Israelites suffered because of Achan's decision.
Sometimes we carry the consequences for the decisions and actions of other people.
Joshua sends some men to go and spy out Ai. It's just a small place. The Israelites had just come through the major battle of Jericho and God handed over the enemy, so they assume that because Ai was so small it would be easy to conquer. As a result, Joshua sends just 3000 men, and the Israelites are soundly defeated and humiliated. The men lose courage, turn their backs, and are chased back to their camp. Joshua falls on his face before God and asks God why in the world did you bring us here if you are no longer going to be with us?
Joshua 7:11–12 - God answers, "The Israelites have sinned: they have broken the agreement I have commanded them to obey... I will not help you anymore unless you destroy everything as I commanded you."
The Israelites faithfully followed the LORD's directions when they crossed the Jordan; the LORD led them safely across. The Israelites followed the LORD's directions as they marched around Jericho; the LORD gave them the city. But then, when they went up against the small city of Ai, they are soundly defeated. Why? There was sin in the camp and the sin needed to be dealt with and removed.
When "the storm" in our lives hit we questioned everything. Why? Were we doing something outside of God's will? Everything was going smoothly ... what happened? After questioning and examining everything, we finally began to understand the sudden turn of events was not what we were expecting, but God was directing our path. While we were caught unaware by the secret actions of others, God was not surprised and He knew what we didn't know. Hidden motives began to be revealed. The new path we were on was going to be tough, but we made the decision to stand strong and follow HIS lead—no matter what. It was tempting to turn around and run in an attempt to flee the power of "the storm", but fear is never from the LORD, so we began to take our first steps on HIS path. We would stand strong and face "the storm."
If whoever reads these words understands nothing else please understand this: when I say "we" I am not referring to just my husband and myself. The WE is God with us. There is no way we could have withstood all "the storm" has thrown our way these last years without GOD being the LORD of our lives. We could not have survived if we had tried to face "the storm" in our own strength. It was God's power; God's might; God's strength; God's hand; God's leading; God's encouragement; God's directions; God's faithfulness; God's love; and God's protection. The LORD—HE is the ONE! All we did was open our hands and drive the stake in the ground. When we said, "We will follow You wherever You lead and whatever the cost," God supplied ALL the rest. He gave us strength to stand strong in the battle. He gave us Jane (Her Name Was Jane) and His words through her lips. He put a holy numbness and barrier around us to protect us emotionally from the ugliness of "the storm." He is the One who has sustained us and He is the One who will deliver us.
God tells Joshua to gather the people and He will choose the tribe, family, and then person that broke the agreement with the LORD and brought trouble to Israel. Achan is called out. Joshua tells him to bring honor to God and confess what he had done. Achan confesses. (Note that he only confessed after God exposed him, not before.) He admits sinning against God. He admits that he saw things he wanted (a beautiful coat, gold and sliver) and he took them and hid them. What happened next is both sobering and frightening. Joshua 7:25 - Joshua says to Achan, "I don't know why you caused so much trouble for us, but now the LORD will bring trouble to you." Psalm 140:9 - "Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused."
Everything Achan had was destroyed. The things he took, everything he owned, his entire family—all destroyed. Everything! Achan confessed his sin but his confession did not stop the punishment and consequences. I hope his soul was saved.
Addendum: 11/21/13 ~ When things didn't go as expected, Joshua "bowed face down on the ground before the Ark of the LORD and stayed there until evening," and then he asked God specific and direct questions. What a life lesson. When life throws us a curve ball that is what our first response should be. Go to the LORD and stay there. Ask God specific questions. Wait for His answer. When we search for God, we WILL find Him, because He "lets" us find Him, and He WILL answer. (Jeremiah 29:13–14) The LORD answered Joshua and said to him, "Stand up"! Here is the problem and this is what you need to do.
I am so grateful that we serve a living God. One who hears our prayers and knows our name. One who demands our obedience and gives us His blessings. One who instructs us and guides us. One who intercedes to the Father on our behalf.
The LORD—He is the One.
Next Entry: Joshua 8:1–35
Joshua 7:1 - "But the Israelites did not obey the LORD."
Achan disobeyed God's instructions. The Israelites were totally unaware of Achan's hidden sin, but because of Achan's disobedience, the entire tribe of Israel paid the price for it. Joshua 7:1 doesn't say Achan sinned, it says the Israelites didn't obey. Achan took for himself what belonged to God and the entire group of Israelites suffered because of Achan's decision.
Sometimes we carry the consequences for the decisions and actions of other people.
Joshua sends some men to go and spy out Ai. It's just a small place. The Israelites had just come through the major battle of Jericho and God handed over the enemy, so they assume that because Ai was so small it would be easy to conquer. As a result, Joshua sends just 3000 men, and the Israelites are soundly defeated and humiliated. The men lose courage, turn their backs, and are chased back to their camp. Joshua falls on his face before God and asks God why in the world did you bring us here if you are no longer going to be with us?
Joshua 7:11–12 - God answers, "The Israelites have sinned: they have broken the agreement I have commanded them to obey... I will not help you anymore unless you destroy everything as I commanded you."
The Israelites faithfully followed the LORD's directions when they crossed the Jordan; the LORD led them safely across. The Israelites followed the LORD's directions as they marched around Jericho; the LORD gave them the city. But then, when they went up against the small city of Ai, they are soundly defeated. Why? There was sin in the camp and the sin needed to be dealt with and removed.
When "the storm" in our lives hit we questioned everything. Why? Were we doing something outside of God's will? Everything was going smoothly ... what happened? After questioning and examining everything, we finally began to understand the sudden turn of events was not what we were expecting, but God was directing our path. While we were caught unaware by the secret actions of others, God was not surprised and He knew what we didn't know. Hidden motives began to be revealed. The new path we were on was going to be tough, but we made the decision to stand strong and follow HIS lead—no matter what. It was tempting to turn around and run in an attempt to flee the power of "the storm", but fear is never from the LORD, so we began to take our first steps on HIS path. We would stand strong and face "the storm."
If whoever reads these words understands nothing else please understand this: when I say "we" I am not referring to just my husband and myself. The WE is God with us. There is no way we could have withstood all "the storm" has thrown our way these last years without GOD being the LORD of our lives. We could not have survived if we had tried to face "the storm" in our own strength. It was God's power; God's might; God's strength; God's hand; God's leading; God's encouragement; God's directions; God's faithfulness; God's love; and God's protection. The LORD—HE is the ONE! All we did was open our hands and drive the stake in the ground. When we said, "We will follow You wherever You lead and whatever the cost," God supplied ALL the rest. He gave us strength to stand strong in the battle. He gave us Jane (Her Name Was Jane) and His words through her lips. He put a holy numbness and barrier around us to protect us emotionally from the ugliness of "the storm." He is the One who has sustained us and He is the One who will deliver us.
God tells Joshua to gather the people and He will choose the tribe, family, and then person that broke the agreement with the LORD and brought trouble to Israel. Achan is called out. Joshua tells him to bring honor to God and confess what he had done. Achan confesses. (Note that he only confessed after God exposed him, not before.) He admits sinning against God. He admits that he saw things he wanted (a beautiful coat, gold and sliver) and he took them and hid them. What happened next is both sobering and frightening. Joshua 7:25 - Joshua says to Achan, "I don't know why you caused so much trouble for us, but now the LORD will bring trouble to you." Psalm 140:9 - "Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused."
Everything Achan had was destroyed. The things he took, everything he owned, his entire family—all destroyed. Everything! Achan confessed his sin but his confession did not stop the punishment and consequences. I hope his soul was saved.
Addendum: 11/21/13 ~ When things didn't go as expected, Joshua "bowed face down on the ground before the Ark of the LORD and stayed there until evening," and then he asked God specific and direct questions. What a life lesson. When life throws us a curve ball that is what our first response should be. Go to the LORD and stay there. Ask God specific questions. Wait for His answer. When we search for God, we WILL find Him, because He "lets" us find Him, and He WILL answer. (Jeremiah 29:13–14) The LORD answered Joshua and said to him, "Stand up"! Here is the problem and this is what you need to do.
I am so grateful that we serve a living God. One who hears our prayers and knows our name. One who demands our obedience and gives us His blessings. One who instructs us and guides us. One who intercedes to the Father on our behalf.
The LORD—He is the One.
"Our greatest struggle is not in the realm of understanding the will of God; it's in the realm of obeying the God whose will it is. To be painfully honest, when you and I look back at our lives, we do not find ourselves puzzled and mystified about God's will nearly as much as we find ourselves stubborn and resistant to the One directing our steps. Our problem isn't that we don't know; our problem is that we do know but aren't willing to follow through.
That's the basic struggle of the Christian life. The clear truth of God is set before us time and time again. It's available to us, we read it, we hear it explained from the pulpit, in a Christian book, or on a Christian radio program, and we sense the Holy Spirit whispering, Yes, this means you. We understand Him clearly but we resist. When the chips are down, our tendency is to say, "I've got it planned another way." ~ From Wisdom for the Way by Charles Swindoll
Next Entry: Joshua 8:1–35
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