Joshua 7:10-18 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Joshua 7:10-18. Let’s go!
Joshua 7:10-18 (NIV)
10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?
11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.
12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.
14 “‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that theLORD takes shall come forward man by man.
15 He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!'”
16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken.
17 The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken.
18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
On verses 10-18: Earlier God had specifically commanded that the Israelites were not to take any loot from the city of Jericho for themselves (Joshua 6:18). However, God tells Joshua that Israel violated God’s command by taking for themselves some of Jericho’s riches (v11). Until this sin was confessed and dealt with, the Israelites could not be victorious in battle (v12). So God tells Joshua to present all of Israel before Him and initiate a process by which Israel’s population would be widdled down tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family, until eventually they came to the man who was responsible for this sin. They go through this process and find that Achan is chosen.
What can we learn from this passage?
1. We might be able to hide our sin from people, but we can’t hide our sin from God. As Hebrews 4:13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
2. We might think that our sin affects no one except ourselves. But when there is persistent, unconfessed sin in my life, it hurts not only myself and my family but the entire people of God of which I am a part. Just as Achan’s sin prevented the Israelites from being victorious in battle, so our own private sin can hinder the ability of God’s people as a team to move forward and successfully gain more territory. What you do and how you live have a real impact on how effective your church can be in this world. You matter to God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me today that nothing – no sin – is hidden from Your sight. Thank You that just as You were proactive in helping Joshua rid his team of sin, so You are proactive in helping me identify and get rid of sin in my life, not as punishment but as preparation for greater things. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
