Joshua chapter 6 verse 18 (NIV)
But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it.
Joshua chapter 7 verses 4-12 (NIV)
So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name? ”The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 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. 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.
God gave very clear instructions to the Israelites about how they were to conduct themselves after the battle of Jericho. But one man ignored those instructions and brought the subsequences of his sin upon the people of Israel.
Joshua faced his first crisis early in his leadership role. He does seem, possibly in the heat of the moment, or maybe from feeling the pressure, to have forgotten what God said. His prayer certainly suggests so.
God reminded him of this and told him what to do now.
This account reminds me of the need to be careful to comply fully with God’s instructions. My failure to do so may have an impact on other people as well as myself.
Also when things don’t seem to be working out the way God told us it would, we shouldn’t waste time feeling sorry for ourselves. We need to come before God and find out what we need to do to make things right. We have seen already this week that everything God says comes to pass, so if there’s a hiccup, then the fault doesn’t lie with Him. The consequences of putting things right can be costly. It’s far easier and simpler to do as God bids us in the first place.
Dear Lord,
Thank you that when we do in, You are gracious to forgive a repentant heart. But help me to be obedient directly to Your instructions and to remember that my actions may have consequences for others too. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.