“The LORD Is Bringing Trouble

On You Today”

But the Israelites broke faith in regard to the devoted things: Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things; and the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.

Joshua 7:1

Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” And Achan answered Joshua, “It is true; I am the one who sinned against the LORD God of Israel. This is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighting fifty shekels, then I covered them and took them. They now lie hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. They took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites; and they spread them out before the LORD. Then Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, with the silver, the mantle, and the bar of gold, with his sons and daughters, with his oxen, donkeys, and sheep, and his tent and all that he had; and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD is bringing trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him to death; they burned them with fire, cast stones on them, and raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore that place to this day is called the Valley of Achor.

Joshua 7:19-26

Sin is a terrible disease. It is difficult to bring under control because many people do not recognize its deadliness. And many dispute the Bible’s diagnosis of sin.

Achan and his entire family paid for his sin. Thankfully, God does not deal with us in that way. If He did, none of us would remain alive. Yet we must never under-estimate sin’s deadliness. It sent Christ to the cross for us. The first step in dealing with sin is to recognize it for what it is. Then receive with gratitude the gift of eternal life.

Sin is a heart disease that can be cured only by the Great Physician.

Our Daily Bread – August 14, 2009