ACHAN'S SIN (2)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Defeat at Ai
(Text: Joshua 7:10-26)
1. What is the text all about?
a) Achan's sin was not merely his keeping some of the booty (God allowed it in some cases), but his disobeying God's explicit command to destroy everything connected with Jericho. His sin was indifference to the evil and idolatry of the city, not just a desire for money and clothes. God would not protect Israel's army again until the sin was removed and the army returned to obeying him without reservation. God is not content with our doing what is right some of the time. He wants us to do what is right all the time. We are under his orders to eliminate any thoughts, practices, or possessions that hinder our devotion to him.
b) "Sanctify yourselves" meant that the Israelites were to undergo purification rites like those mentioned in Joshua 3:5 when they were preparing to cross the Jordan River.
@1. 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5 NIV)
c) Such rites prepared the people to approach God and constantly reminded them of their sinfulness and his holiness.
d) Achan underestimated God and didn't take his commands seriously (Joshua 6:18).
@1. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. (Joshua 6:18 NIV)
e) It may have seemed a small thing to Achan, but the effects of his sin were felt by the entire nation, especially his family. Like Achan, our actions affect more people than just ourselves. Beware of the temptation to rationalize your sins by saying they are too small or too personal to hurt anyone but you.
f) Why did Achan's entire family pay for his sin? The biblical record does not tell us if there were accomplices to his crime, but in the ancient world, the family was treated as a whole. Achan, as the head of his family, was like a tribal chief. If he prospered, the family prospered with him. If he suffered, so did they. Many Israelites had already died in battle because of Achan's sin. Now he was to be completely cut off from Israel.
g) Achan's entire family was to be stoned along with him so that no trace of the sin would remain in Israel. In our permissive and individualistic culture we have a hard time understanding such a desire, but in ancient cultures it was a common punishment. The punishment fit the crime. Achan had disobeyed God's command to destroy everything in Jericho; thus everything that belonged to Achan had to be destroyed. Sin has drastic consequences, so we should take drastic measures to avoid it.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we would avoid at all cost the temptation to rationalize our sins by saying that they are too small or too personal to hurt especially our family, friends and colleagues.
The End ...
0. Introduction a) Defeat at Ai
(Text: Joshua 7:10-26)
1. What is the text all about?
a) Achan's sin was not merely his keeping some of the booty (God allowed it in some cases), but his disobeying God's explicit command to destroy everything connected with Jericho. His sin was indifference to the evil and idolatry of the city, not just a desire for money and clothes. God would not protect Israel's army again until the sin was removed and the army returned to obeying him without reservation. God is not content with our doing what is right some of the time. He wants us to do what is right all the time. We are under his orders to eliminate any thoughts, practices, or possessions that hinder our devotion to him.
b) "Sanctify yourselves" meant that the Israelites were to undergo purification rites like those mentioned in Joshua 3:5 when they were preparing to cross the Jordan River.
@1. 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5 NIV)
c) Such rites prepared the people to approach God and constantly reminded them of their sinfulness and his holiness.
d) Achan underestimated God and didn't take his commands seriously (Joshua 6:18).
@1. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. (Joshua 6:18 NIV)
e) It may have seemed a small thing to Achan, but the effects of his sin were felt by the entire nation, especially his family. Like Achan, our actions affect more people than just ourselves. Beware of the temptation to rationalize your sins by saying they are too small or too personal to hurt anyone but you.
f) Why did Achan's entire family pay for his sin? The biblical record does not tell us if there were accomplices to his crime, but in the ancient world, the family was treated as a whole. Achan, as the head of his family, was like a tribal chief. If he prospered, the family prospered with him. If he suffered, so did they. Many Israelites had already died in battle because of Achan's sin. Now he was to be completely cut off from Israel.
g) Achan's entire family was to be stoned along with him so that no trace of the sin would remain in Israel. In our permissive and individualistic culture we have a hard time understanding such a desire, but in ancient cultures it was a common punishment. The punishment fit the crime. Achan had disobeyed God's command to destroy everything in Jericho; thus everything that belonged to Achan had to be destroyed. Sin has drastic consequences, so we should take drastic measures to avoid it.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we would avoid at all cost the temptation to rationalize our sins by saying that they are too small or too personal to hurt especially our family, friends and colleagues.
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