Jos 7:16-18 | KingComments | STEP | Again Joshua, as we regularly read of him, arises early ( ; ). There should not be any waiting with this case. What happened in Israel can also happen in our conscience. If God makes something clear to our conscience as sin, it will paralyze us if we do not condemn it immediately. To reveal evil, God goes a certain way. By the way He does so, each member of the whole people is personally placed before God. We see this in “man by man” ( ). We also see it with the disciples, after the Lord has said that one of them will betray Him. They then ask, each one of them personally: “Surely not I, Lord?” ( ). When there is evil in the church I have to ask: ‘What is the situation with me? Is there also evil in our house? To make sin public Joshua follows exactly the directions the LORD has given ( ). Achan cannot escape his discovery. From the beginning he had the opportunity to come up with his evil instead of waiting for the moment he had to confess it. Now there is no longer a question of any voluntary action. He is forced to do so. Therefore the confession of Achan has not much value. While each time the lot is cast, Achan follows its course. He sees how his indication as the guilty one is coming ever closer. Yet he waits till the lot points him out personally. Sin hardens and blinds us to the infallible course of God’s righteousness. Sin will always think that there is a way out to prevent sin from being made public. Sin does not take God into account and even believes that God does not see sin ( ). Achan belongs to the royal tribe of Judah. The fact that this sin has happened among them will save them from boasting of their importance. Scandals in families that are held in esteem must work a humble mind.

‏ Joshua 7:16-18

Achan Is Appointed

Again Joshua, as we regularly read of him, arises early (Jos 7:16; Jos 3:1 ; Jos 6:12 ; Jos 8:10). There should not be any waiting with this case. What happened in Israel can also happen in our conscience. If God makes something clear to our conscience as sin, it will paralyze us if we do not condemn it immediately.

To reveal evil, God goes a certain way. By the way He does so, each member of the whole people is personally placed before God. We see this in “man by man” (Jos 7:17). We also see it with the disciples, after the Lord has said that one of them will betray Him. They then ask, each one of them personally: “Surely not I, Lord?” (Mt 26:21-22). When there is evil in the church I have to ask: ‘What is the situation with me? Is there also evil in our house?

To make sin public Joshua follows exactly the directions the LORD has given (Jos 7:14). Achan cannot escape his discovery. From the beginning he had the opportunity to come up with his evil instead of waiting for the moment he had to confess it. Now there is no longer a question of any voluntary action. He is forced to do so. Therefore the confession of Achan has not much value.

While each time the lot is cast, Achan follows its course. He sees how his indication as the guilty one is coming ever closer. Yet he waits till the lot points him out personally. Sin hardens and blinds us to the infallible course of God’s righteousness. Sin will always think that there is a way out to prevent sin from being made public. Sin does not take God into account and even believes that God does not see sin (Psa 94:7).

Achan belongs to the royal tribe of Judah. The fact that this sin has happened among them will save them from boasting of their importance. Scandals in families that are held in esteem must work a humble mind.