What part of no don’t you understand?

How many times, as parents, have we found ourselves asking our kids this question? We set rules and guidelines, so as to protect and care for them, until they can safely function in the world on their own. When we catch them doing a thing we’ve clearly told them not to do, their response to the question above is usually something like “Oh, this? I thought you were talking about something else.” Are you kidding me?!

This was where I found my brain going, after reading through the events that occurred right in the middle of Jericho falling, and the ripple effect that tore through the Israelites camp. Honestly, sometimes human nature irritates me so much! Looking at the ones involved as if their naughty children, is the only way I can find understanding in the dumb things we children seem to do.

For example! Consider for a moment that you are a man of fighting age, following God’s chosen army around Jericho for a week, only to watch the walls fall to the ground because God said they would if you walked around it. At this point, you’ve been informed by the one directing the army, “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. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the lord and must go into his treasury.” Joshua 6: 18,19 NIV. With what you know of God thus far, and as one serving in His army, logic should dictate that you follow this directive.

As I read further into this story, there was, in fact, a man in this very position. His sin and disobedience to God cost the lives of at least 30 some fellow soldiers later on, in the next city the Israelites went up against. You see, Joshua was unaware of what Achan son of Carmi, took for himself and hid in his tent. When Joshua sent the army to Ai, they were routed and sent fleeing, leaving the Israelites very confused, as to why they lost the battle; why would God allow this to happen? When Joshua sought God for the answer, this was where he learned about something bad happening in the camp, but God didn’t just give him the answer… I think this was a lesson, somehow.

The whole of the community were to come before the Lord, tribe by tribe, until God chose the tribe involved. From here, they were to come before God by families, until once again, God chose the family involved. Now at this point, if I were Achan, I’d be sweating pretty bad! Where can you run, where can you hide from God? How many of us can remember the feelings we went through, as our parents put us on the spot about what we thought had gone unnoticed. We had knots in our stomachs, as we awaited whatever punishment was forthcoming for said offense. I honestly cannot imagine how I might feel coming before God, knowing I could not escape the truth! For this particular man, and his entire family, the consequences were deadly… they were all stoned to death!

You want to know why I think this story bothered me so much? I think it’s because, even today, we still try to hide our sins and shortcomings from the one who already knows; He knows before we’ve even thought to do the sinning. I cannot even put myself above this embarrassing truth of our human behavior. I squirm uncomfortably, at the thought of all the times I think my attitude or behavior is hidden from the eyes of my Father. It’s not!

I realize that even today, our sinful human nature is always there to attempt lulling us with the safety net of our salvation… it’s not that bad, God will forgive us! We bolster our spiritual confidence with the thought that as long as we don’t do the big no no’s, we’re good with God, for the most part. It is so easy to find ourselves creating biblical excuses for bad behavior. As I mentioned before, I’ve been simultaneously reading the New Testament along side the old, and it has been very edifying. I am finding that all of the books in the bible are so cohesive with each other, adding depth to my studies.

I want to leave you with a verse I read this morning, from the book of Galatians. I think that within this verse lies part of my answer, as to how that soldier could be so foolish, when he most certainly should have known better:

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6: 7-9

Have a blessed day, everyone… hugs