From Joshua 7:1-9

Never let it be said that God takes disobedience or faithlessness lightly.  One of the Israelites, a man named Achan, during Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land, takes some of the devoted thing for himself.  These were things that were set aside either to be destroyed or committed to the temple, things that had religious significance for the various idols that the people before Israel worshiped.  By taking the devoted things for himself, Achan was disobeying God’s command and creating space for idolatry to grow in Israel.  God finds this course of action unacceptable and withdraws His support from Israel’s military campaign, as evidenced when Joshua commands an attack on Ai that is soundly repelled by the people there.  At this point, Joshua recognizes that something has gone wrong and immediately goes to God in humility and in prayer.

Achan desires these devoted things more than he desired obedience to God, and Israel is punished for it. Now, does this mean that idolatry today can result in a country being punished with some kind of disaster? Sure (don’t stop reading here though!) Does this mean that when a country is suffering it is because of some specific sin or idol?  No, we don’t have anything to say that for certain.  In the Small Catechism, when explaining the different commands of God, we are frequently directed back to the first commandment – to have no other gods besides God.  A helpful way of thinking about this first commandment is that we fear, love, and trust God above all else.  When we violate other commandments, that sin is frequently rooted in a fear, trust, or love of something else above God. When we read about what happened to Israel because of Achan, we are reminded that God cares deeply for people to be obedient and faithful to Him.  So when we read about what Achan did and how God responded, we are reminded to be faithful to God and to His commands for us – regardless of how tempted the “devoted things” might be.  

Focus on God

We are reminded in these verses that God takes His commandments seriously.

Function in Our Lives

We are encouraged to fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Topics to Pray About                                                               

  • Thank God for caring enough to discipline us.
  • Confess to God the times where you set aside obedience and faithfulness for something else.
  • Ask God to keep you focused on Him and on His Word.

In His Service,

J. LeBorious