“But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things for Achan, the son of Karmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zehra, of the tribe of Judah took some of the devoted things, and the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.”
– Joshua 7:1
Thus begins a very sad chapter in the Book of Joshua as one man’s sin, Achan, he keeps some of the treasures that God had said not to keep. He hides them in his tent and, as a result, the judgment of God comes upon the people of God. People die in battle, a little battle at a place called Ai, and then Achan and his family eventually experience the judgment of God.
When we sin against God, it does not just effect us. Lord, help us to see the seriousness of sin and run to the Savior.
Joshua 7:1 Cautions Us About Sin
Joshua Chapter 7 is a humbling testimony to the seriousness of sin, and not just its seriousness in our own lives, but its effect on others’ lives. Moreover, Joshua 7 is a clear reminder to us that, when we sin against God, it doesn’t just affect us. It affects people around us. My sin has an effect on my marriage, has an effect on my parenting, and my kids. My sin has an effect on the church that I lead and pastor. And, my sin has an effect on the people around me. If I’m not walking with God, it’s going to have an effect on the people around me, so see this in your life. Realize that your relationship with God is not just affecting you. It’s affecting so many different people.
Let’s Pray…
God, we pray, keep us from sin. God, help us to run from it. Help us not to try to hide it, to try to gloss over it like Achan did here. He’s thinking nobody will see, nobody will know. He had no idea that, not only would people see and know, but people would die as a result. God, help us to get our eyes off ourselves, to realize that our sin doesn’t just affect us. It hurts, it affects, it harms people around us.
God, please, please keep us from sin, forgive us of sin, cleanse us of sin, help us to run from sin, purify us from sin for our good and for the good of those around us and ultimately, oh, God, for the glory of your name, our joy in you. God, help us to see the seriousness of sin and to live in light of it. Today, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
