Under Gods command

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 23:12
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

The people most likely to gain knowledge are those who are willing to listen. It is a sign of strength, not weakness, to pay attention to what others have to say. People who are eager to listen continue to learn and grow throughout their lives. If we refuse to become set in our ways, we can always expand the limits of our knowledge.

Under Gods Command

Joshua 7:24-25 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today. Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.

Achan underestimated God and didn’t take his commands seriously (6:18). Taking a robe, along with some silver and gold, 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 buy you. What sins have we committed that effected our entire family? Is there any sin that is floating around in your house right now? Just remember, sin has drastic consequences. We might not get stoned to death, but we still face drastic consequences.

Achan’s entire family paid for this sin. The family was treated as a whole in the ancient world. 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 them. Many Israelites had already died in battle because of Achan’s sin. Now he was to be completely cut off from Israel. In ancient cultures this punishment was common. The punishment fit the crime: Achan had disobeyed God’s command to destroy everything in Jericho; as a result everything that belonged to Achan had to be destroyed. Sin has drastic consequences, so we should take drastic measures to avoid it.

Under Gods Command

Joshua 7:10-12 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

Why did Achan’s sin bring judgment on the entire nation? Although it was one man’s failure, God saw it as national disobedience to a national law. God needs the entire nation to be committed to the job they had agreed to do-conquer the land. As a result, when one person failed, everyone failed. If Achan’s sin went unpunished, unlimited looting could break out. The nation as a whole had to take responsibility for preventing this undisciplined disobedience.

Achan’s sin was not merely his keeping some of the plunder (God allowed it in some cases), but his disobeying God’s explicit command to destroy everything connected with Jericho. Achan’s 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. We are under his orders to eliminate any thoughts, practices, or possessions that hinder our devotion to him.

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 20:23 – The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.

Differing weights refers to the loaded scales a merchant might use in order to cheat the customers. Dishonesty is a difficult sin to avoid. It is easy to cheat if we think no one else is looking. But dishonesty affects the very core of a person. It makes him untrustworthy and untrusting. It eventually makes him unable to know himself to relate to others. Don’t take dishonesty lightly. Even the smallest portion of dishonesty contains enough of the poison of deceit to kill your spiritual life. If there is any dishonesty in your life, tell God about it now.

Under Gods Command

Joshua 7:01 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things, Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them, So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.

The devoted things refer to all the clothing, cattle, and other plunder that God said Israel should destroy when they conquered Jericho. It was not that they found a good use for something that was going to be thrown out anyway. This was a serious offense because it was in direct defiance to an explicit command of God.

Notice the results of Achan’s sin:
1. Many men died (7-5)
2. Israel’s army melted in fear (7-5)
3. Joshua questioned God (7:7-9)
4. God threatened to withdraw his presence from the people (7:12)
5. Achan and his family had to be destroyed (7:24-26)

When Israel eliminated the sin from their community, these were the results:
1. God’s encouragement (8:1)
2. God’s presence in battle (8:1)
3. God’s guidance and promise of victory (8:2)
4. God’s permission to keep the plunder and livestock from the battle for themselves (8-2)

Throughout Israel’s history, blessing came when the people got rid of their sin. We will also experience blessings when we turn from sin and follow God’s plan wholeheartedly.

Under Gods Command
Proverbs 18.11 – The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, they imagine it an unsalable wall.

In imagining that their wealth is their strongest defense, rich people are sadly mistaken. Money cannot provide safety-there are too many ways for it to lose its power. The government may cease to back it; thieves may steal it; inflation may rob it of all value. But God never loses his power. He is always dependable. Where do you look for security and safety-uncertain wealth or God who is always faithful?