Bible Pathway - Mar. 15, 2010
Highlights:
Sin of Achan; Israel defeated by Ai; judgment of Achan; Ai defeated; altar on Mount Ebal; Covenant renewed. What was read to Israel is very important for us to know.
Verses for Today:
Achan . . . said . . . I have sinned . . . When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold . . . then I coveted them (Josh. 7:20-21).
Jericho had been destroyed by God and Joshua said: All the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord (6:19). Achan was a soldier in the Lord's army, privileged to gather silver and gold from the ruins of Jericho for the treasury of the Lord. But he buried some of it in his tent.
Perhaps he thought that a few extra shekels would be nice. He assumed that no one would know. Apart from believing the Word of God, it's easy to allow our selfish greed to deceive us. Achan's sin of coveting was detestable to God as revealed by His fierce anger.
Nine times in the first six chapters of the Book of Joshua it is said that the Lord had spoken and directed Joshua (1:1; 3:7; 4:1, 8,10,15; 5:2,15; 6:2). By not consulting the Lord, Israel went to war with Ai, and Israel incurred defeat (7:2-5). Joshua had momentarily failed to consider that the Lord Himself was their Commander-in-Chief.
The fierceness of the Lord's anger reveals how detestable to God is the sin of coveting and Achan had to be judged.
We are all selfish by nature and, unless we submit to the indwelling Holy Spirit, the smallest temptation will prove too powerful for us. To covet is dishonest. Honesty implies refusal to lie, steal, cheat, or deceive.
It is recorded that Judas coveted and stole money entrusted to him by the Lord (John 12:4-6). Christians will provide things honest in the sight of all men. . . . Let us walk honestly, as in the day. . . . In all things willing to live honestly (Rom. 12:17; 13:13; Heb. 13:18).
Honesty is a test of character. Our motives and our attitudes reveal our character and our conduct. If we are not strictly "honest" in all our dealings with God and man, we need to repent, pray for forgiveness, and return it to its owner, and do that which is honest (II Cor. 13:7).
Thought for Today:
But whoso looketh into the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:25).
Christ Revealed:
Through the uncut stones at the altar (Josh. 8:31). Daniel saw Christ as a Stone which was not cut by human hands (Dan. 2:34,45). Jesus is our Chief Corner Stone (1 Pet. 2:6; Matt. 21:42).
Word Studies:
7:1 anger of the Lord was kindled =fierceness of His anger (7:26); 7:6 rent =tore; put dust upon their heads =b> expressed intense sorrow by defiling their heads; 7:9 environ us round =surround us; against =before; 7:11 dissembled =deceived; 7:13 sanctify =consecrate, cleanse, make undefiled; against =efore; 7:18 taken =chosen; 7:26 Achor =trouble; 8:11 pitched =camped; 8:13 liers in wait =oncealed ambushers.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts in memory of Henry Rogers • Government Officials: Sen. Edward Kaufman (DE) and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg • Country: Brunei (400,000) on the northern coast of Borneo • Major languages: Malay and English • Limited religious freedom • 66% Muslim; 19% Chinese religions; 6% animist; 4% Protestant; 4% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Pray for boldness to tell others about the Lord (Acts 4:29).
Optional Reading: John 6
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:7-8
