Main Verse: Joshua 7

Good morning!

So Jericho was behind them and it was successful and the nation’s morale was at an all-time high! Then along came AI whose total army complement was nothing compared to Israel’s so it was suggested to bring about 2 to 3000 men because, “We’ll whoop them like we did to Jericho”. So the men went up and the weakling Aians chased Israel all the way back to Sheburim and, just like that, the nation’s morale shrunk to “0”; Captain Joshua who looked like a hero at Jericho was now also a “0”. So, Joshua took a page out of Moses’ book and fell down on his face and complained that the Lord had abandoned him and “What would the world think?”. Notice the Lord didn’t say, “Gee Joshua I’m sorry! You see, I was taking a cat nap and I just checked my voice mail” (1 King 18:25-29). Instead, the Lord told Joshua, “Get your carcass off the ground, pull up your big boy underwear, and listen well! There’s a fly in the ointment because one of your men took things that didn’t belong to him and, until they’re returned you will always lose” (Mike’s Version). Joshua found out who the culprit was and was promptly dealt with and then the curse was removed.

While it may seem like the Lord’s being petty and selfish, however, the optimum word here is, “Sin”. By disobeying a direct order the man caused problems for the whole nation (Proverbs 11:28-29). Achan most likely thought he could justify his actions and the Lord would see it his way sort of like Gahazi (2 Kings 5:15-27). You must understand the Lord God has never and will never accept our justification for destroying lives, either by stealing things or by adultery; the only thing the Lord expects from us is repentance and acceptance of whatever consequences that come as a result (2 Samuel 12:7-15 as an example).  My encouragement for you today dear friends is that you will carefully consider your choices and think about who will be hurt because of them.

I.H.S. MK

Father,

As it is written, “Sin is sin there is none better and none worse” All of them cause nasty side effects (1 John 3:4-10, 1 Samuel 15:20-31). There are things that we have all done that we wish we were given 15 minutes beforehand to slap ourselves silly for even considering the action. It is easy to offer up a “Cupcake promise”  that is easy to offer and is just as easily broken (Mary Poppins). Please help me today to do what my elder brother Jesus did when temptation presents itself to reply with your word. I pray for my family today and especially for those who need a special touch from you.

In Jesus’ name