Joshua 7 -- How We Convince Ourselves That It's Not Sin When It Is

This chapter is such a great reminder of how we can allow sin to enter our lives, thinking such a small thing won't really matter, and then find out just how badly things can go as a  result of our disobedience to God.

The Israelites, fresh from their stunning victory at Jericho, were thrashed by a small city they invaded next.  Yes, they'd probably been overconfident, but the real problem was the sin of one man and his family's efforts to help him hide it.  "Never underestimate the amount of damage one person can do outside the will of God," my commentary said.

It also detailed Achan's mistakes:

First, "he looked at the spoils a second time ... It's that second glance that gets the imagination working and leads to sin."

Second, "he reclassified those treasures and called them the spoils.  They were not the spoils; they were part of the Lord's treasury and wholly dedicated to Him... When God identifies something in a special way, we have no right to change it ... If God says something is wrong, then it's wrong and that's the end of the debate."

Third, he coveted.  "But each on is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed (James 1:14) ... The imagination is the womb in which desire is conceived and from which sin and death are eventually born."

Fourth, he thought he could get away with his sin by hiding the loot.  "Be sure your sin will find you out."

"Unbelief is always content to settle for something less than God's best ... Achan and his family had turned from the true and living God and had given their hearts to that which God had said was accursed -- silver, gold, and an expensive garment.  It wasn't worth it!"

The words of verse 13 ring out in warning:  "The Lord, the God of Israel, says some of you are keeping things He commanded you to destroy.  You will never defeat your enemies until you throw away those things."  Achan, when caught, said, "I wanted these things very much for myself."  That says it all.

Father, thank You for this awesome reminder of how we can convince ourselves that our sin isn't really sin and that it's okay to allow it in our lives.  Help me not to want anything else but You, and what You've commanded me to destroy from life, give me the strength to do so.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford