Things Intended For Destruction.

This little post is about a story so sit back, be intrigued and maybe you can learn a similar lesson? I don't know, but here are my thoughts.

There once was an entire group of people- there were hundreds of them, no- thousands... wait! millions of them. They were everywhere and they were wandering. They had a label- it was "God's People" and wherever he went they were supposed to follow. He blessed them, guided them and spoke to them. He made his presence unavoidable by day in the form of a cloud and inextinguishable by night in the form of fire. He stayed with them always. He showed them his faithfulness over and over, repeatedly telling them the same promises and yet, they made the same mistakes over and over, repeatedly spitting on his word. He offered them an undeserved relationship- unrelenting.

In one of the occasions where He was going to prove his faithfulness yet again, God's People disobeyed. After careful instruction they still disobeyed. You see, God said, "But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it." So, the leader, Joshua, told the people that all they should keep from the land they conquered were the precious metals they found and those would be set apart for only God. BUT, low and behold, an Israelite did NOT obey. He decided to take some things that were meant for destruction and (of course) he hid them. The story goes on to say how God's people went in to take over another nation however, this did not go over seamlessly. 36 of God's men died- not a usual occurrence because they always had God with them, fighting FOR them. God's people's "hearts melted" and Joshua, their leader tore his clothes because he was so inexpressibly troubled. He questioned God on why he allowed them to fail knowing that it revealed weakness to the rest of the nations when Israel was defeated. God in return declares, "don't you know?! there is sin in the land! I will be with you no more unless you ravage the items that I initially instructed should be destroyed!" (not an exact translation; read it yourself in Joshua 7) Then he tells Joshua to take this message to the people.

The next day, God tells Joshua to separate the people into tribes (there were 12 of them) and after God selected the tribe of Judah, he instructed him to break them into clans, then from there he broke them into families and then from there into households and then to a man. Achan from the tribe of Judah, the clan of Zerahites, household of Zabdi was chosen. Joshua says, "Give glory to Yahweh and give praise to him. Tell me what you have done, don't hide any more." Achan answers humbly and precisely, disclosing every single item that was intended for destruction that he instead hid under his tent rug. Joshua questioned Achan on why he brought trouble and then told him that trouble would now fall on him. Achon was stoned. Nothing of him remained. No more family. No more tent. No more rug. No more items intended for destruction. It was all destroyed. The next chapter narrates the incredible feat the Israelites claimed in the renewed battle against the original nation they lost 36 men to. God's presence was with them yet again.

NOTES:
God is serious about his declarations and he cannot be present where there is sin. One man's sin affects the entire body of Christ. God gives Achan a chance to repent (I don't think it was quick for Joshua to take every single man, one by one, up to the altar...it took lots of time). The wages of sin are death.

Application:
What sin am I hiding from Jesus??
In Ephesians 5, it says that Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her- he sanctified her by the washing of water with the word- he presented her to himself in splendor- holy and without blemish. The sins I hold onto in my life- or even the sins I allow to come into my tent (like Achan) God intended for destruction. When I cling to them- his presence cannot be with me...Jesus washes me which allows God to look at me. The only reason I am worthy for God to just look at is because of Jesus. (now I'm humbled.)
How quick am I to repent? To change my ways? To do a 180 turn around?

I realize this isn't a comfortable story. Seriously, I do. When I read it this afternoon, I had to dwell on it and soak in the words. They are intense and so real. God's severity and seriousness is totally frightening. So, after reading this I had no choice but to let those tears stream down my face and repent for the things intended for destruction that had settled itself in my heart.