Good Morning “Sin Confessors”. Today we are in Joshua 7.
Gods faithful! The nation of Israel is in a good place… or so it seems. God has dealt with any remaining rebellion in their hearts. They’ve all been circumcised and God had recently given them victory over Jericho. Their next assignment - take Ai. No problem. Small army. But wait, it seems they are fighting on their own strength. They’re routed by the men of Ai and struck down. What happened?
Joshua tears his clothes and falls face down at the Arc of the Lord - remaining there until evening. God comes to tend to him. Poor Joshua he says… I’m sorry for your struggle? NOT QUITE! After a little belly aching on Joshua’s part, God addresses him.
“…Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?” Joshua 7:10 NIV.
Israel has sinned God tells him. They took some of the devoted things. Before their attack on Jericho, God told them to stay away from the “Devoted things”. All the gold, silver and valuables are to be brought into the treasury - lest they bring destruction upon themselves. (Joshua 6:18-19) The culprit… Achan. Although God made His expectation clear, we likely still struggle with His response and Achan’s penalty. The payment required for sin is death Romans 3:23. We don’t deserve another breath let alone life.
Once caught, check out Achan’s defense. Within it we see the process each time we sin. ”When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar 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 7:21 NIV
He saw… which isn’t a sin in and of itself. However; he lingered, fixated on them, then coveted or desired them which is sin. That gave birth to deeper sin - “he took them.” After the sin is committed comes the guilt, hopefully conviction… then unfortunately too often - the cover up. But we can’t fool God. Unconfessed sin must be dealt with. God reveals or exposes our sin and it’s never easy. (Luke 12:2) Our sin always affects those around us.
We’re fortunate. Because of Jesus payment our sins are forgiven, but that doesn’t mean our relationship with The Lord is not affected. We must humble ourselves and confess our sins to Him so that we can be forgiven and our right relationship restored (1 John 1:9). What’s more He gives us each other that we might be healed from our besetting sin. There is power in confessing them to each other. ”Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed….“ James 5:16 NIV
What do you have buried under your tent? Love you all! Dig in.
Gods faithful! The nation of Israel is in a good place… or so it seems. God has dealt with any remaining rebellion in their hearts. They’ve all been circumcised and God had recently given them victory over Jericho. Their next assignment - take Ai. No problem. Small army. But wait, it seems they are fighting on their own strength. They’re routed by the men of Ai and struck down. What happened?
Joshua tears his clothes and falls face down at the Arc of the Lord - remaining there until evening. God comes to tend to him. Poor Joshua he says… I’m sorry for your struggle? NOT QUITE! After a little belly aching on Joshua’s part, God addresses him.
“…Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?” Joshua 7:10 NIV.
Israel has sinned God tells him. They took some of the devoted things. Before their attack on Jericho, God told them to stay away from the “Devoted things”. All the gold, silver and valuables are to be brought into the treasury - lest they bring destruction upon themselves. (Joshua 6:18-19) The culprit… Achan. Although God made His expectation clear, we likely still struggle with His response and Achan’s penalty. The payment required for sin is death Romans 3:23. We don’t deserve another breath let alone life.
Once caught, check out Achan’s defense. Within it we see the process each time we sin. ”When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar 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 7:21 NIV
He saw… which isn’t a sin in and of itself. However; he lingered, fixated on them, then coveted or desired them which is sin. That gave birth to deeper sin - “he took them.” After the sin is committed comes the guilt, hopefully conviction… then unfortunately too often - the cover up. But we can’t fool God. Unconfessed sin must be dealt with. God reveals or exposes our sin and it’s never easy. (Luke 12:2) Our sin always affects those around us.
We’re fortunate. Because of Jesus payment our sins are forgiven, but that doesn’t mean our relationship with The Lord is not affected. We must humble ourselves and confess our sins to Him so that we can be forgiven and our right relationship restored (1 John 1:9). What’s more He gives us each other that we might be healed from our besetting sin. There is power in confessing them to each other. ”Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed….“ James 5:16 NIV
What do you have buried under your tent? Love you all! Dig in.
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