Jos 7:1 | KingComments | STEP | In this chapter we see the consequences of sin in the people of God. There is one man in Israel who has sinned, but God says that the whole people have been unfaithful and have transgressed ( ). If sin is present in His people, God cannot go on with them. Israel discovers that to its loss. Ai is so small in their eyes, that according to them the whole people do not have to go up against it. Their previous victory over Jericho and the sin committed in their midst make them self-confident and independent of God. By their defeat Joshua goes to the LORD to ask Him for the cause of it. The answer is that it comes from sin in their midst and that it must first be removed. Even in this day and age we can only count on the presence of the Lord Jesus in the church if we respond to the instruction: “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves” ( ). The difference between Joshua 6 and Joshua 7 is that in Joshua 6 we see the power of God and in Joshua 7 we see the weakness of man, also of the believer. The weakness of the people is expressed in two ways: Achan takes from what is under the ban and Joshua under-estimates the enemy. The walls of Jericho did not fall by the power of man, but by faith in the power of God. They had to experience for a week that a victory does not depend on them, but on God. This has been an encouraging start. But the impression that the people gained there was short-lived. It is with it as with us. We can have a beautiful religious experience one day and fail the next. The presence of Him Who gives the victory also asks for holiness. The people are only just in the land and sin reveals itself. This is how it happened in the church when it has only just come into being: Ananias and Sapphira cheated the church and lied against the Holy Spirit ( ). This is how it has always gone with everything that God has given to man for good and in grace. When something is entrusted to the responsibility of man, he has corrupted it after a short time. We see this, for example, in paradise and at the institution of the priesthood. Achan violates the commandment ( ) and does not think about the consequences for his family and for the people. When sin is committed, others are often dragged into its consequences. You do not go away from the way of God only by yourself. Often the condition of the believer is also a reflection of the family from which he originates. He is formed by it. Maybe that is why the whole family of Achan is mentioned. We can also remember that in Achan the whole people commit this act of unfaithfulness. Anger burns against the whole people. The principle is that what one of us does is not without consequences for others. The mass must pay if such evil is present among the people. It defiles the whole people. This evil appears when the whole people are weak. These things are connected. Where there is weakness, evil gets a chance, and when there is evil, the power is gone. The previous day’s trust in God is no guarantee of trust for today. Achan can do this because the whole people are weak. When evil manifests itself, we must ask ourselves how it has been possible, wherein we have failed.

‏ Joshua 7:1

Introduction

In this chapter we see the consequences of sin in the people of God. There is one man in Israel who has sinned, but God says that the whole people have been unfaithful and have transgressed (Jos 7:1 ; 11). If sin is present in His people, God cannot go on with them. Israel discovers that to its loss. Ai is so small in their eyes, that according to them the whole people do not have to go up against it. Their previous victory over Jericho and the sin committed in their midst make them self-confident and independent of God.

By their defeat Joshua goes to the LORD to ask Him for the cause of it. The answer is that it comes from sin in their midst and that it must first be removed. Even in this day and age we can only count on the presence of the Lord Jesus in the church if we respond to the instruction: “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1Cor 5:13b).

The difference between Joshua 6 and Joshua 7 is that in Joshua 6 we see the power of God and in Joshua 7 we see the weakness of man, also of the believer. The weakness of the people is expressed in two ways: Achan takes from what is under the ban and Joshua under-estimates the enemy.

The walls of Jericho did not fall by the power of man, but by faith in the power of God. They had to experience for a week that a victory does not depend on them, but on God. This has been an encouraging start. But the impression that the people gained there was short-lived.

It is with it as with us. We can have a beautiful religious experience one day and fail the next. The presence of Him Who gives the victory also asks for holiness.

The Sin of Achan

The people are only just in the land and sin reveals itself. This is how it happened in the church when it has only just come into being: Ananias and Sapphira cheated the church and lied against the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-3). This is how it has always gone with everything that God has given to man for good and in grace. When something is entrusted to the responsibility of man, he has corrupted it after a short time. We see this, for example, in paradise and at the institution of the priesthood.

Achan violates the commandment (Jos 6:18) and does not think about the consequences for his family and for the people. When sin is committed, others are often dragged into its consequences. You do not go away from the way of God only by yourself. Often the condition of the believer is also a reflection of the family from which he originates. He is formed by it. Maybe that is why the whole family of Achan is mentioned.

We can also remember that in Achan the whole people commit this act of unfaithfulness. Anger burns against the whole people. The principle is that what one of us does is not without consequences for others. The mass must pay if such evil is present among the people. It defiles the whole people.

This evil appears when the whole people are weak. These things are connected. Where there is weakness, evil gets a chance, and when there is evil, the power is gone. The previous day’s trust in God is no guarantee of trust for today. Achan can do this because the whole people are weak. When evil manifests itself, we must ask ourselves how it has been possible, wherein we have failed.