With the assistance of the prostitute named Rahab, the Israelites, led by Joshua took Jericho and had devoted it’s plunder to the LORD. After the fall of Jericho in chapter 6 of the book of Joshua, chapter 7 reveals the lengths to which a man’s sin can reach. 
Following the victory at Jericho, Joshua sent out men to spy on Ai, prior to the Israelites engaging. Sometime later the spies returned with a report that a small force could be used to defeat Ai. So based on the intelligence report, the Israelites mount up 300 men to attack Ai, but are defeated. The Israelites and Joshua are bewildered, they are at a loss as to why God wasn’t with them in their effort against Ai.
The reason for the failure at Ai, is that Achen had violated the covenant with God; during Israel’s siege against Jericho, Achen took it upon himself to horde some of the devoted silver,gold, and articles of bronze and iron.
Joshua 7:10-12
10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
Later in Joshua 7 we learn that God has Joshua present each tribe to Him, and Achen from the tribe of Judah is eventually identified as the culprit in bringing about the initial defeat at Ai. As a consequence Achen along with his family, the horded devotions and all of his possessions are taken out and stoned.
A phrase often used when speaking of Christianity is that of the individual having a personal relationship with Christ. From my own experience, more times than not, I’ve viewed my sins as an issue confined to my life. I think it can be quite easy to forget that the consequences of our sins can sometimes extend beyond our own lives. That’s not to say that every time you or I sin that it will impact someone else directly and in as adverse a situation as did Achen’s sin, but I do believe it’s safe to assume that in some form or fashion there is a negative effect.
When king David had the adulteress affair with Bathsheba, it affected David and his relationship with God. The extreme physical consequences being the death of Uriah and of Bathsheba’s child. When Judas conspired to betray Jesus it led to His death and blood on Pilate’s hands as well. As Christians when we do something “trivial” as lying or cheating, it has the potential to not just paint the Christian as a hypocrite, but it further diminishes the unsaved person(s) view of Christ’s redemptive power and their own need for a Savior in Him, leaving them perhaps to never know Jesus and the saving grace of God.
Walking with Christ isn’t simply a case of “trying to be good”, it truly is a matter of life and death, we ought to remember that we’re not just talking about our lives.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grace and peace be with you.
Got-Fruit(?)
The effects of Achan’s sin
With the assistance of the prostitute named Rahab, the Israelites, led by Joshua took Jericho and had devoted it’s plunder to the LORD. After the fall of Jericho in chapter 6 of the book of Joshua, chapter 7 reveals the lengths to which a man’s sin can reach.
Following the victory at Jericho, Joshua sent out men to spy on Ai, prior to the Israelites engaging. Sometime later the spies returned with a report that a small force could be used to defeat Ai. So based on the intelligence report, the Israelites mount up 300 men to attack Ai, but are defeated. The Israelites and Joshua are bewildered, they are at a loss as to why God wasn’t with them in their effort against Ai.
The reason for the failure at Ai, is that Achen had violated the covenant with God; during Israel’s siege against Jericho, Achen took it upon himself to horde some of the devoted silver,gold, and articles of bronze and iron.
Later in Joshua 7 we learn that God has Joshua present each tribe to Him, and Achen from the tribe of Judah is eventually identified as the culprit in bringing about the initial defeat at Ai. As a consequence Achen along with his family, the horded devotions and all of his possessions are taken out and stoned.
A phrase often used when speaking of Christianity is that of the individual having a personal relationship with Christ. From my own experience, more times than not, I’ve viewed my sins as an issue confined to my life. I think it can be quite easy to forget that the consequences of our sins can sometimes extend beyond our own lives. That’s not to say that every time you or I sin that it will impact someone else directly and in as adverse a situation as did Achen’s sin, but I do believe it’s safe to assume that in some form or fashion there is a negative effect.
Walking with Christ isn’t simply a case of “trying to be good”, it truly is a matter of life and death, we ought to remember that we’re not just talking about our lives.
Grace and peace be with you.