Welcome!
Today: Identifying the “Achan” in your life
Passage: Joshua 8
8 When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the LORD has commanded. See to it; you have my orders.” 9 Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai—but Joshua spent that night with the people. – (Joshua 8, NIV 84)-emphasis added
This is the first in the series “you have my orders”
Joshua, who is also called a “servant leader” by many biblical scholars, is a person who lead by example. He faithfully served Moses until God told him to step up to leadership. When God wants to exalt somebody, nobody can stop it
Joshua never tried any tricks to get up there. When people put a person in a position, they put a person who has “proved” their ability. When God puts somebody in a position, He puts the one who is scarcely known by anybody
Sometimes, when a certain person comes to a certain position, people ask “who is that person? Never heard about him!”
Joshua was God’s pick. God can’t go wrong. Joshua did an exemplary job!
Coming to the promised land, Israelites had their first victory. They conquered the city of Jericho. Their confidence went all the way up. Smaller cities like “Ai” never paused a threat!
So, they went against Ai even without consulting God. They miserably failed!
Joshua got into action. He inquired of the Lord the reason for the failure and found out that a certain person by name “Achan” was responsible
They took care of Achan. He was killed. That was the O.T rule
We better identify the “Achan” in our own personal life and deal with it, if we need victory
Coming to the New Testament, we don’t deal with individuals that way. Our fight is not with flesh and blood. But we deal with the devil directly
If we experience failure in any area of our personal/family life or as a church, we better run a “search query” and find out the root cause, instead of “accepting” failure as part of God’s will
Sometimes God allows certain set-backs, but we better identify between the ones that God allows and the ones that satan brings
We being God’s children, satan will fight his best against our progress in life. Things may not come that easy. We may need to fast and pray so that some of the hindrances will be removed and that we can go ahead
After all the “blocks” had been removed, Joshua, like a commander-in-chief, gives orders to go and take Ai. If they fail, Joshau will take the responsibility.
Joshua listened to God; so the people listened to him!
He was sure that he had removed all the hindrances and that God was with him
In the New Testament, we see that Jesus spoke with authority
Have a blessed day!
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being our commander-in-chief. We now know the reason for the many failures in our life. Help us to trust in you more, and ask of you, instead of depending on our own wisdom and acting foolishly. Amen
“When we follow God’s directions, we are following Him”