Judgement for Sin

Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell before the ark of the Lord with his face to the ground until evening, as did the elders of Isral; they all put dust on their heads."Oh, Lord God," Joshua said, "why did You ever bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites for our destruction? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan! What can I say Lord, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies? When the Caananites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do about Your great name?"
The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! Why are you on the ground? Israel has sinned. They have violated My covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what had been set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put things in their own belongings." Joshua 7:6-11

Only one man's sin caused the Israelite army to be defeated at Ai. One person stealing and lusting after riches robbed his family of their lives, they were all stoned to death. I wonder if he had given up the goods straight away if things would have been different?

What can we learn from this? In the New Testament we see a couple judged because they attempted to lie to the Holy Spirit. There are certain things which are not negotiable. We are told I Corinthians that the reason some are sick in the church is because they took communion with a wrong attitude.

It is all very well to say that we are in a dispensation of grace and God is not like that anymore but the New Testament has its own issues. When God is moving and says no to certain behaviours, perhaps we should really listen! Amen!

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