Joshua Chapter 7

Achan was supposed to take the devoted things to the temple treasury. But he didn't. Now God got angry with Israel...
Wait what? the whole nation was under fire because of one man? A guy who is not even a leader, this guy is literally four rungs down the ladder. And God is laying the blame on the nation.

Meanwhile, Joshua's going on with the invasion. He's sent spies to Ai, and the spies come back saying, just send two or three thousand men and they'll be enough to take Ai. So Josh sends three thousand, and they're routed, why cause God is mad at Israel, because Achan stole what belongs to God. Sure it wasn't a huge loss, they sent three thousand, and they lost thirty six. But the people's reaction.

They collapsed in fear.Even Josh tore his clothes, fell before the ark and stayed near it till evening. All the elders joined him, and sprinkled dust on their heads. Suddenly all the miracles, Joshua's confidence shattered. Why did you bring us across the Jordan, If only we were content to stay on the other side, we've been routed, what can I say? Will not every other nation hear that we lost to Ai? Won't they come get us?

This is the man who not too long ago, spoke with the general of the Lord's army, crossed a flooded river on dry land, saw a city wall fall when his men cheered, and literally heard from God every day.

God's response is simply, Joshua why are you on your face? Israel has sinned. They have broken the covenant, they have taken the devoted things for themselves. Put it with their own stuff. That is the reason they cannot stand against their enemies. I am not going to be with you, unless you destroy what was supposed to be destroyed, and who did it and everything they own, with fire.

God tells Joshua to go and tall the people to consecrate themselves, cause there are dedicated things among the people. And they need to be found and destroyed.

I can imagine Achan thinking that there was no way he would be caught, and then remembering all the crazy things God had already done. And then his tribe was called, his division, his family, his clan. And then him.

Joshua asks him what he did, and he confesses, he knows he sinned against God. A robe, silver and gold, and it was beautiful, so I took them, and hid them in my tent.

His sin was exposed, and the consequence was that his family, posession, cattle and even his tent was destroyed. Because he brought trouble on Israel, But God wanted just the devoted things destroyed, did Joshua have to go so far? Was he making an example out of him?

Achan's mistake Israel lost thirty six innocent men, their position was compromised, their lives were shaken. One man's sin, became the first sin in the promised land.

I kind of see why Josh was the way he was. This one man's selfishness put everyone at risk. But I kind of admire Achan.

I feel like if I was in Achan's position, I might have done the same.

My fiancee pointed out that maybe Joshua was being merciful in that he stoned them, rather than burning them to death.

It just upsets me, I know that if it continued it would have got out of hand. And Israel would have imploded on itself, just like before. But it kind of feels excessive. kind of wrong.

So what can be learned.

It may seem like grace. But there are consequences for sin.
Both temporal and eternal.

Mercy is in the details.

He is still God, and that does not change. Am I willing to trust him, even when I don't understand his ways?