Friday, January 14, 2022
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel” (Joshua 7:1 KJV).
Just what is this “accursed thing?” How will it affect the Israelites here in “time past?” What does this say about their fate in “the ages to come?”
When the Jews entered the Promised Land from the east under Joshua’s command, the first city they conquered was formidable Jericho, on the western banks of the River Jordan. This is chronicled in chapter 6 of the Book of Joshua, complete with the famous account of the wall of Jericho miraculously falling down after Israel marched around it for seven days. Just prior to the fall of the wall, Joshua issued some solemn advice to his nation.
“[17] And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. [18] And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. [19] But 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.”
Now, verses 23 and 24: “And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.” Alas, as today’s Scripture indicates, Achan was quite foolish in his dealings with Jericho, and all Israel will suffer for it….
333 Words of Grace 