THE ERRORS OF ACHAN- PART 2
JOSHUA 7:1, 24-26
God is a faithful God but He hates one thing- the lifestyle of Sin. This three letter words tie the hands of God. It makes Him to be in opposition against one He should protect. It makes one beatable. Once sin is dealt with, victory and lasting result is guaranteed. It brings trouble and must not be allowed in the camp of any child of God or children of God. This was seen in the life of the Israelites when a man, violated the commandment of God and a nation of few people defeated them.
JOSHUA 7:1, 24-26
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the children of Israel”
“ And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them up unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? Jehovah shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones, unto this day; and Jehovah turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day”
The Israel nation defeated Jericho and had a little nation called Ai to conquer as they are heading to the promised land. After the conquest of Jericho, God gave out a commandment to obey- but it was violated by one man called Achan. The Lord was with Joshua and his fame was noised through all that country, so the forgoing chapter ends, and it left no room to doubt but that he would go on as he had begun conquering and to conquer. He did right and observed his orders in everything. But the children of Israel committed a trespass, and so set God against them, and then even Joshua’s name and fame, his wisdom and courage, could do them no service. ‘Achan’, in the camp must be dealt with.
Facts to Note;
a. Sin is the greatest enemy which can defeat a man or nation easily vs (Joshua 7: 8, Proverb 14:34)
b. Iniquity is a blocker of Divine presence & power
c. Your life today affects your destiny tomorrow
d. Your action has a consequence in others.
e. Destruction of an accursed thing is a gateway for forwardness in life. No possession of possession unless Achan (troubler) is dealt with.
f. Violation of Divine commandment equals foolishness (Joshua 7:15)
g. What one hides may hide him forever (Joshua 7: 21)
h. Every failure starts with a step.
THE WHOLE MESS OF ACHAN STARTED WITH A STEP.
THE ERRORS OF ACHAN:
1. Taking something which belongs to God. vs 1,21
Things which belongs to Him.
a. Spoils of Jericho – Joshua 6:18-19
b. Special tribe from Joseph - Genesis 48:5
c. People of Israel (called His armies) - Exodus 7:4
d. Every male firstborn - Exodus 13:2
e. All earth - Exodus 19:5
f. Silver & Gold - Haggai 2:8
g. Tithe - Malachi 3:10-11
2. Familiarity with God.
Israel may have said “God won't do anything after all we are heading to the promised land” We know Him’
After all He is too merciful. ‘What can He do with Babylonian garment? ‘After all my tribe has been chosen for His praise’
( The undoing of the children of Eli- sins of familiarity, contempt, wickedness) 1 Samuel 2:12-17
3. Not considering the consequence.
Achan knew that AI is in line now for destruction, because of their fewness. The nation took them for granted.
‘Anything can happen and God cares less. He is not a ‘serious’ God.
‘Again,God cannot damn his loved ones’
‘Anyway, once hidden cannot been seen and nothing happens after all’ (Remember Rachael when she hid her father’s gods – Genesis 31:30- 35)
‘God is too merciful to punish a sinner’. (Ananias & Sapphira in Acts 5:1-3)
THE ACHAN'S SLIPPERY SLOPE OF SIN.
The Achan's actual stealing of those items was but the culmination of a process of sin as was seen from his own words in vs 20,21
Through his acts in verses 20-21, you see his movement towards the way of iniquity and punishment.
“ And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Of a truth I have sinned against Jehovah, the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
when I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it”
(a) “I saw”
(b) “I covet”
(c) “I took”
(d) “I hid”
It’s only the power of God that can set one free from these dangerous acts. The step brought greater damnation and punishment to Achan and his household. May God deliver His children from false steps in Jesus Name. Amen
