January 23, 2022
Dearly Beloved in Christ ! I greet and bless you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has given for you today is from the book of Joshua 7: 25,26, “Then Joshua said, to Achan, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger.”
Few years back the entire world had experienced very cruel and agonising period of time due to Covid 19. We felt the wrath of God was poured upon the people because of sin, adultery, idol worship and bribery and committing all kinds of sinful activities. The entire nation was shut down under the name of “Lock down.” All were inside their homes. People couldn’t go to their office, or shops to purchase or to see their relatives. Many lost their jobs, and their loved ones. We even couldn’t bury the dead. All were struck in pain and misery. It looked as if we were in captivity. But this year we pray that God would have mercy and show us His favour. So that we will regain all that we had lost in life. May this year bring prosperity and the blessings of God. As a servant of God I declare the blessings of God, be placed upon your head as Moses had blessed the tribe of Israel and especially Joseph. That each one reading this message will be blessed by God and you shall increase thousand times more than what you had been in the past. May God help you to carry on your regular work and sustain you with peace and serenity. In the Bible we have an incident where Joshua a mighty leader of Israel lost his battle against the city of Ai, since one man sinned against God. The wrath of God was kindled against the people of Israel.
From the above context we learn that since one man Achan, sinned against God, Joshua and his men lost in the battle against Ai. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. Though Joshua fought many battles and had also won them. Now they had to fight against the city of Ai. They thought that they could easily overtake them as they were few in number. So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, about thirty-six of them, were killed. They chased the Israelites from the city gate and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. On hearing their failure, Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. And Joshua said, “Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? They lost the battle since Achan sinned against the Lord God of Israel. If Israel hearkened to His voice, to do what was right in His eyes. God would have brought victory. But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things. … Achan son of Karmi, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the costly shawls and hid them under his tent. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
The Lord said to Joshua, “Israel had sinned; they had 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 couldn’t stand against their enemies; and they have been made liable to destruction. Go, consecrate the people. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.” Early the next morning Joshua called for the tribes of Israel, and Judah was chosen. The clans of Judah came forward, Achan son of Karmi, was chosen.Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” So Joshua’s sent messengers, ran to the tent, took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord. Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor.Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. May God help you to walk in the fear of God and obey His commandments. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Dear Lord we thank You for admonishing us to fear the Lord, and never plunder what is not lawful. Help us not to be like Achan who coveted the things that belonged to the enemies and made it his own possession. May we always remember that God watches over us. Help us to be truthful and honest in our lives.
In Jesus Name We Pray.
Amen.
