WordLive - Year OneVoorbeeld

Prepare: Do you remember as a child being afraid to own up to something you had done wrong because of your fear of the consequences? This situation doesn’t relate only to children, as we will see today.

Corruption in the camp
Joshua is about to learn a lesson about seeing things through God’s eyes. He had lost a military campaign and somehow felt God had been responsible. While he is still praying God interrupts him with a question: ‘Joshua, why are you allowing human pride to cloud your judgement?’ Then he knows that the problem lies in his camp, not God’s.

From a soldier’s perspective the war machine was perfect. But despite the military precision he had instilled, the discipline he demanded, the dedication he attracted, all Joshua’s efforts had failed to stop corruption taking hold. One man’s lust for physical riches had sown seeds of destruction for all Israel.

A hard lesson
I am sure he was not alone in looting as this was common military practice following a victory. However, God had made it clear that this was not how the Israelites were to act. Achan must have been terrified as he moved closer and closer to the front but still he didn’t own up.

Finally he shows contrition and has to pay the law’s penalty by forfeiting his life (v 25). This is a hard lesson. God is not taken in by outward appearances, whether empty prayer or human endeavour. He is concerned with what goes on inwardly; so too should we.

Respond: Ask God to help you deal with you, from the inside out, to make real and lasting changes in your inner being so you can love and serve him better.

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-05-22