Today's Reading:

Joshua 7
Joshua 8
Joshua 9
Joshua 10

Sin has a ripple effect that reaches farther than just the person who has sinned. In Joshua 7, Achan secretly sinned by stealing the plunder from Jericho and hid it in his tent. These items had been set apart by God as devoted things belonging to Him alone. This went against God’s command in 6:24 to put the articles of silver, gold, bronze and iron into the Lord’s house. Achan’s sin affected the whole community by taking what God had claimed as His own. The items would have been considered sacred property at that point, and his entire household could have benefited from them. That is why the household would share in the punishment of the head of the family. While it can seem unfair that Achan’s sons, daughters, and animals perished, this was the seriousness of the sin in a covenant. The hidden disobedience affected many people, and no sin is truly private as it impacts families, communities and our relationship with God. Achan’s story warns us of the consequences to sin, but Christ’s death provides for mercy and restoration. Are there any “hidden” things in our lives that could bring trouble to others? God sees everything, and when we repent, He will forgive.

 

Joshua the Israelite leader, had just defeated Jericho through the work of God. They went to battle against Ai after the scouts told Joshua that few men would be needed. Israel was defeated and lost 36 men. Achan, who was the son of Zimri (not the same as Zimri who was impaled for bringing the Midianite woman to the camp in Numbers 25 or King Zimri from 1 Kings 16). Achan stole silver, gold and a Babylonian garment from the plunder that was set apart as God’s after the defeat of Jericho. He hid the stolen items in his tent. Achan’s sin affected the entire community (corporate sin). Due to his unfaithfulness, when the Israelites went up against Ai, they lost the battle. Joshua tore his clothes because he understood that the Lord was not with them in battle. One cannot stand against their enemies with theft in their midst, therefore God used this as a warning and deterrent. God gave time to repent by having tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family and then man by man come forward. Achan was pointed out but showed no true repentance. God is omniscient, (He knows all, even your secrets). The punishment was to be stoned to death and all belongings burned. God’s holiness is serious with serious consequences. Sin starts in the heart, which will then yearn for more and disobedience must not be ignored. Sin must be removed to have a relationship with God, and you honor God by telling the truth.

After the death of Achan, God declared them to fight Ai again. The Israelites would now be able to defeat them, and God allowed them to conquer as well as take the plunder and livestock. Notice that God set up the plan for attack and told Joshua to hold the javelin, which is reminiscent of the battle with Moses, Aaron and the Amalekites after leaving Egypt. In both of these instances, Israel prevailed by their dependence on God, not their own strength. Joshua had faith until the victory was complete. Like their arms raised to God, we lift our hands in praise to worship Christ (1 Timothy 2:8). Joshua worshiped God by following Moses’s commands and built the altar on Mount Ebal for the cursing. The Israelites then renewed their covenant with God.

Chapter 9 brought about the Gibeonites to trick Joshua and the leaders. The Gibeonites had heard news of Jericho being defeated as well as Ai. The Gibeonites decided to trick the Israelites into forming a peace treaty by pretending to be from a distant country as they feared for their lives. Joshua and the leaders questioned the Gibeonites, but they failed in seeking the Lord’s guidance when giving the oath to

let them live. Three days later, the Israelites learned of the deceit but honored their oath to avoid God’s wrath, as God expects oaths to be binding for integrity. The Gibeonites were now cursed to be woodcutters and carry water for the Israelites as servants, which fulfilled Deuteronomy 29:11. The Gibeonites accepted their fate as slaves over the possibility of death.

In chapter 10, the Israelites faced 5 Amorite kings who attacked Gibeon after the peace treaty. Joshua and his army marched all night to make a surprise attack in the morning, which was not the normal protocol. God delivered the Amorites by confusing the armies and brought hailstones that killed more people than the Israelite’s swords did. The battle lasted throughout the day, and Joshua prayed to the Lord not for a quick victory, but instead for the sun to stand still. Miraculously, the sun and moon seemed to stop moving, giving Israel extra daylight to finish crushing these five enemy kings. God’s divine power was working for His people and controlling the heavens. Other parts of the Bible echo the idea of His power over the sun and moon. In Habakkuk 3:11, there is a prayer which described the sun and moon standing still. In Isaiah 38:7-8, God made the sun’s shadow go backward as a sign for King Hezekiah. As a fun add-on, there is an old urban legend that NASA computers once discovered a “missing day” in their calculations of time and orbits, supposedly this matched Joshua’s long day (with a bit extra from Hezekiah’s story to make a full 24 hours)- while known as a myth with no real evidence, it does make the truth of the Bible showcase God’s divine power over creation.

The same God who answered Joshua’s prayer is also listening to yours. He might not stop the sun, but there are moments of grace He can slow for us to catch our breath.

Today's Discussion question: 

God is not bound by human time, so knowing He can “make time stand still”, what part of your life would you ask Him to slow down? Is there a season of joy- a wedding day, child’s first steps, or a rare moment that you wish could last forever? Maybe it was a hard goodbye- or a chapter of your life you were not ready to close? Is there a time that you long to freeze to pray, prepare, or simply breathe?

 
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