The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 7:1,
"But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord's anger burned against Israel."
As Joshua sent men to destroy the second city (Ai) in their conquest of the promised land, they suffered a humiliating defeat. Although Ai was small, and required only a few thousand soldiers to conquer, the Israeli contingent was scattered and chased from the city with about thirty-six of them being killed.
It turned out the reason for their defeat at the second city was due to sinning against the Lord when they took the first city, Jericho. Some of the "devoted things" had been taken by a man from the tribe of Judah, Achan. "It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 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." Verses 20-21.
"But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord's anger burned against Israel."
As Joshua sent men to destroy the second city (Ai) in their conquest of the promised land, they suffered a humiliating defeat. Although Ai was small, and required only a few thousand soldiers to conquer, the Israeli contingent was scattered and chased from the city with about thirty-six of them being killed.
It turned out the reason for their defeat at the second city was due to sinning against the Lord when they took the first city, Jericho. Some of the "devoted things" had been taken by a man from the tribe of Judah, Achan. "It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 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." Verses 20-21.
It was important for Israel to take the promised land from the Canaanites, but this sin against the Lord by one man brought it all to a stop. It was an object lesson to teach the Israelites that if they wanted God's help and support, it was important they followed him.
How about us today? Are there things that might be preventing us from accessing God's help in one form or another due to our own disobedience to him? Might he be withholding his hand because he is wanting us to acknowledge him in the things we think, do and say?
It seems to me some reflection in this regard is always needful.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment