Monday, January 17, 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?”
Having inflicted capital punishment on the culpable party (Achan and his family), the LORD commands Israel to attack Ai once more, with the Jews finally overthrowing the city (Joshua 8:1-29). We will recall Israel’s prior beating at Ai was because of Achan’s sin concerning the “accursed thing” (re-read Joshua 7:11-13, if necessary). For now, what we need to take away from these passages is this simple fact: until Israel’s sin is addressed, she will not have any victory. (We will expand upon this concept later.)
Let us go back to Achan’s confession. What exactly did he do wrong? We let him tell us: “And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it” (Joshua 7:20,21). Yet, Joshua’s instructions had been: “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” (Joshua 6:19). Achan took the precious metals he found in Jericho, and he kept them for himself instead of giving them to JEHOVAH God. He coveted, stole from God, and lied to cover it up (Joshua 7:11), before being ultimately forced to tell the truth when it was too late.
Yet, re-read Achan’s admission of guilt again. He also took a “goodly Babylonish garment,” something quite beautiful… an object connected to Satan (!) worship….
333 Words of Grace 