Every human being is guaranteed to face shortcomings, failures, and loss. As you travel through this life, the world will seek to give you wisdom. All of the supposed wisdom of this world can seem logical and effective on the surface, yet something absolutely necessary is missing. Listen to God speak about His thoughts in comparison to ours:
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
The Bible is full of illustrations regarding this truth. Today, we’ll focus on the story of Achan and the battle at AI. God has just given the Israelites victory over their enemies. He has commanded them to leave all of the gold, silver, and precious goods to be set apart for God. Let’s see how this plays out…
But the people of Israel broke faith regarding the devoted things, for Achan, the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, 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
Not good. While everyone has obeyed, one man has not…and sin ruins everything. The disobedience of a few has often been the downfall of many in the church. This is not new. God is angry at Achan specifically, but He is also angry with His people. Sin infects everything around it.
2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, 5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
Joshua 7:2-5
Logically, at the end of this sequence of events, our minds would think about strategy, tactics, or some other aspect of morale that may have affected this outcome. To bring this into our day, when things go wrong in our lives, it is very easy to look at the practical and think of strategies and schemes needed to fix our issues. While there is some wisdom in practical fixes in life, there is one great example we can follow in Joshua.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.
Joshua 7:6
I pray we become people who, when we fail, fall short, or feel stuck in a rut…immediately react by crying out to the Lord, falling on our faces before Him, and humbling ourselves in seeking His answer. God will answer our prayers. He will give us the way out. In my life, I have seen the repeated example that there is Achan in my soul, needing to be put to death. As John Owen famously said, “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”
When you are in a season of pain and misery, turn to the Lord. He is trying to show you something. He is trying to teach you something. He graciously continues to remove the sin so deeply entrenched in your heart. Make it your habit to cry out to God when you feel pain. He cares. He loves you with a perfect love. He knows what is best. If you’ll trust Him through these hard times, you’ll be surprised how He blesses your life on the other side.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
Joshua could have looked at the things of this world to explain his absolute failure, but instead, he turned to the God who is. Turn your eyes to Jesus, my friend. He is worthy. He is the answer to every ailment this world brings you.
May God bless your week as you seek His kingdom first!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dan
Comments