Sin in the camp
We often talk about and sing a song that states, God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, unchanging. If this is so, then we need to heed the Old Testament. We need to know it and understand it and what God did and why he did it. Let us have a look at an Old Testament Story, Joshua Chapter seven.
What a time it is. You are an Israelite, God is active all round you. He has sent the very commander of his army to fight alongside you. You've seen miracles as you wondered in the desert now, this same God is helping to destroy your enemies. As these places fall, he gives you one command, do not take devoted things from Jericho. Sadly, Achan took some devoted things from the ruined city of Jericho. His greed and desire got the best of him. The bible says the Lord's anger burned against Israel.
The Lord's anger burned not just against Achan but all of Israel. Joshua sent a small army out to attack another city, AI, but this small city managed to defeat the Israelite's army killing them all. When Joshua heard this he pleaded to the Lord and the Lord answered him, telling Joshua that some had sinned by disobeying God's commands. Because of the sin of at least one person, Israel could not stand against its enemies, 7:12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies: They turn the and run because they have been made liable to destruction. In order to avoid this, Joshua had to clean his camp.
Achan was called out and he confessed his sins, saying he coveted a robe, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold. For this, he and his possessions were taken out. He was stoned to death and then everything burned. Then and only then did the Lord turn from his anger Joshua 7: 26.
The lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. A man who I wholeheartedly disagree with, a Unitarian Universalist, posted this, "Any relationship worthy of the name is one of interdependence not independence. This statement I must agree with. Our relationship with the Lord is not one of independence, not one of a personal god that I can place upon my mental as do the Pagans. If our relationship with God is worthy then it is interdependent, and dependent upon others. Just like we see in Joshua, one person sinned and the whole was held accountable. Therefore, we are our brothers keeprs
We speak of the "Body of Christ" is the church but then we cherish our independence so much that we separate ourselves from that body. Sure, we go to church, we take our kids to activities, and we fellowship. But do we hid things, do we covet things? Do we have stuff hidden under the rug in our tents? Can we function as a body of Christ if one of us is sinning? Do we remain silent knowing a brother or sister is in sin? If so, then there is sin in our camp. Is not God the same today, as he was in Joshua's time? As independent worshippers, as people who don't want to be held accountable to others, what then is the difference between us and Achan?
Does not Matthew 28 state, not only for us to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, son and holy spirit, but also teach them to obey everything that God has commanded? Should we not then clean our own house before trying to clean someone else's house? It is time to pick up the rugs and sweep out the dirt that has collected there.
What a time it is. You are an Israelite, God is active all round you. He has sent the very commander of his army to fight alongside you. You've seen miracles as you wondered in the desert now, this same God is helping to destroy your enemies. As these places fall, he gives you one command, do not take devoted things from Jericho. Sadly, Achan took some devoted things from the ruined city of Jericho. His greed and desire got the best of him. The bible says the Lord's anger burned against Israel.
The Lord's anger burned not just against Achan but all of Israel. Joshua sent a small army out to attack another city, AI, but this small city managed to defeat the Israelite's army killing them all. When Joshua heard this he pleaded to the Lord and the Lord answered him, telling Joshua that some had sinned by disobeying God's commands. Because of the sin of at least one person, Israel could not stand against its enemies, 7:12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies: They turn the and run because they have been made liable to destruction. In order to avoid this, Joshua had to clean his camp.
Achan was called out and he confessed his sins, saying he coveted a robe, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold. For this, he and his possessions were taken out. He was stoned to death and then everything burned. Then and only then did the Lord turn from his anger Joshua 7: 26.
The lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. A man who I wholeheartedly disagree with, a Unitarian Universalist, posted this, "Any relationship worthy of the name is one of interdependence not independence. This statement I must agree with. Our relationship with the Lord is not one of independence, not one of a personal god that I can place upon my mental as do the Pagans. If our relationship with God is worthy then it is interdependent, and dependent upon others. Just like we see in Joshua, one person sinned and the whole was held accountable. Therefore, we are our brothers keeprs
We speak of the "Body of Christ" is the church but then we cherish our independence so much that we separate ourselves from that body. Sure, we go to church, we take our kids to activities, and we fellowship. But do we hid things, do we covet things? Do we have stuff hidden under the rug in our tents? Can we function as a body of Christ if one of us is sinning? Do we remain silent knowing a brother or sister is in sin? If so, then there is sin in our camp. Is not God the same today, as he was in Joshua's time? As independent worshippers, as people who don't want to be held accountable to others, what then is the difference between us and Achan?
Does not Matthew 28 state, not only for us to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, son and holy spirit, but also teach them to obey everything that God has commanded? Should we not then clean our own house before trying to clean someone else's house? It is time to pick up the rugs and sweep out the dirt that has collected there.
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