READING:
One-year plan: Joshua 5-8, Luke 6:37-7:17
Two-year plan: Leviticus 9-10, Matthew 27:27-44
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It’s easy to read today’s Old Testament passage in Joshua and recognize the failure of Achan and his family in securing and hiding some of the spoils from the conquered city of Jericho. Because of Achan’s sin, the people of God lost the battle at Ai, and Achan and his family lost their lives in judgment. At this most pivotal point in Israelite history—that is, now that the people had finally made their way into the Promised Land—God dramatically sent judgment to say to them, “You must be faithful to Me and My commands.” He would not tolerate less than full commitment to Him.
What has caught my eye today, though, is the Word of the Lord to the people before they conquered Jericho in the first place: “But the city and everything in it are set apart to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will live, because she hid the messengers we sent. But keep yourselves from the things set apart, or you will be set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and make trouble for it” (Josh 6:17-18). God was not unclear in this command, it seems; if the people did not obey His word by keeping some of the spoils for themselves, the camp of Israel would pay the price. And, indeed they did, because of the sin of one man and his apparently complicit family.
Here’s the simple reminder for me today: if we just obey God’s Word in the first place, we won’t later on pay the penalty for our wrong choices.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are there any commands of God you’re not faithfully following today?
PRAYER: “Father, remind me over and over again today to listen to Your voice.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Joshua 9-11, Luke 7:18-50
Two-year plan: Leviticus 11-12, Matthew 27:45-56