Sin Has Consequences

Sin Has Consequences

Q: The sin of which person caused the Israelites to be defeated at Ai?

• a. Moses
• b. Aaron
• c. Achan

The Israelites defeated Jericho because God was with them (see yesterday’s devotional). The next battle looked to be an easy one. Joshua’s scouts said to send only 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers and let the rest stay back. They either had a lot of faith in their army, or they’d finally learned to have faith in God.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t have mattered if the Israelites had sent 100 men or 10,000. The real strength was God’s, but God wasn’t with them during this battle. That’s why the inhabitants of the little town of Ai killed 36 Israelites and forced the rest to retreat.

Joshua and the Israelites were stunned. Why had God helped them defeat their enemies in Canaan but then allowed them to be defeated by the people of Ai? Joshua feared the enemies would think the Israelites’ God had failed.

God told Joshua someone had sinned by taking things set apart for God. Those items were meant to be consecrated to the Lord either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

God told Joshua to have people come forward, and he would show Joshua who had sinned. Achan was singled out, and he confessed to taking a beautiful robe as well as silver and gold and hiding them in his tent.

Achan, his wife, their children, and their animals were stoned. Their bodies were burned. This may seem like a harsh punishment, but it shows that God is very serious about sin. Achan’s sin not only affected him, but it also cost the lives of 36 men in battle and the lives of his family.

For You

Your choices, good and bad, affect those around you. Stop and think about possible outcomes before making a decision.

Answer: c

Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.”   Joshua 7:20-21

(The Whole Story: Joshua 7)