7:1 A member of the children of Israel commits a transgression that represents one of humanity's greatest weaknesses: he places material wealth over spiritual wealth. During the siege of Jericho, he takes some of the gold and silver for himself.
The reason why this is especially offensive to God is because it is a declaration that the man places his trust and love in money rather than God. Even though God has enabled the children of Israelites the inherit a nation, cross a wilderness and be freed from slavery without money, this man still places value in material wealth over trust in God.
This lesson is important because we all benefit from learning that our true, lasting and abundant provision comes solely from God. God creates possibility out of impossible situations. He redistributes atoms to create a path for His children; He does all of it without money.
In the New Testament, we are reminded that we cannot serve two masters, Luke 16:30. God understands that life is either lived obedient to money, power and vanity or to God. 1 Timothy 6:10 reveals to us that money is the root of all kinds of evils. Desperation for money causes the disintegration of the soul. Greed is direct opposition to charity and selflessness, which are the root of God's philosophy.
The people of Jericho lived obedient to money and all kinds of evil festered within their walls. This man, Achan "troublesome", opposes the children of Israel and aligns himself with the people of Jericho. Achan lived as an example to us of how easy it is to abandon faith and choose material wealth. The situation here is black and white but warns us to be vigilant in the grey areas of life. The tiny moments in which we make big decisions. If we choose to be obedient to God, that choice needs to be reaffirmed in every action, interaction and thought.
Most of us are no longer sacking cities. Therefore must of us do not have to choose between trusting God and literally walked away from piles of wealth. But Achan's situation is not altogether an ancient one. Our choices are often more opaque than his. But as long as we keep God at the forefront of all our ways, He will direct our paths, Proverbs 3:6. As long as we acknowledge God in all of the tiny moments and decisions, He will educate on choosing the right master. One cares about you, the other does not.
7:2-5 Joshua is not yet aware that there is corruption in the camp. Therefore, he sends an army against the people of Ai and it loses badly. The children of Israel, more than anything, are God's army of students. Achan represented dissension in the camp and the Israelites have to learn that dissension will not win them wars. Their fuel, direction and function is faith. Therefore if their faith is deficient, so is their fuel, direction and function.
You cannot accomplish must on an empty tank. You cannot accomplish anything on an empty spiritual tank. God has to educate the Israelites on the flaw in order to refuel them. The point is not to exact punishment; God loves to love His children. He reluctantly disciplines us out of love. He reinforces this lesson because it is imperative that we learn that only He is capable of propelling us to the places we dream to be.
The children of Israel are an example of how God transforms slave into ruler. Rich into poor. Orphan into claimed child. Without money or scheming, God accomplishes all of those things! His selfless nature rescues, preserves, frees, inspires, blesses, leads, protects. He wants us to understand that our own selfless nature can be too. More powerful than money could ever make us.
Why do people desire money? They wish to inherit happiness, joy, power, ability, respect. All of the various things money can buy are attempts to attain those aforementioned things. The spiritual philosophy of God manifests the happiness, joy, power, ability and respect we dream of. Money and the things it buys only make failed, temporary attempts. Through Achan, we and the children of Israel, are taught this fundamental life truth.
7:6-9 Joshua flabbergasted and distressed at the huge battle loss. He falls to earth before our Father. Joshua's natural response to anxiety, fear and confusion is to consult God. In humility.
The priests put ashes of mourning on their heads, a cultural practice at the time. The reason they mourn is because many men have just died. The metaphor here is that greed causes spiritual death. The earth and all the universe laments when greed consumes souls.
7:10 God's response to Joshua is to rise up from the ground. Although He deserves it, our reverence of God is not what warms Him. It is our love and trust in Him that warms Him. Father instructs Joshua to rise in faith.
As humans, we have a tendency of overreacting. Joshua's loss of one battle causes him to panic about his entire life! Every enemy he has every faced! Doom! Gloom! Lights out... or not. God's response is: Joshua, compose yourself. This is merely a hiccup, and one I am in total control over.
7:11 The situation is not hopeless because God did not fail or turn his back. Achan failed and turned his back. No situation is ever hopeless because God never fails or turns his back. The loss of the battle in Ai was due to human failure not divine failure. And if we are willing to learn and be redirected, God can correct what a human failure caused.
7:12 God states that we cannot face our enemies until we take away the accursed thing that enables them to have power over us. When faith in God, love for God, is your highest valued possession, no enemy can take anything away from you. Your love for God renders enemies powerless.
God explains that until we eliminate the weakness we have that empowers our enemy, they will continue to beat us. We seem to only learn that lesson through experience, unfortunately. A house divided cannot stand, Mark 3:25. Because of Achan, and perhaps others' greed, the children of Israel are a divided house. Their intentions are no longer aligned. Their values are displaced.
The things which weaken us are manifestations of greed: selfishness, vengeance, impatience, lust, desire, dishonesty, injustice, distraction, hypocrisy, arrogance, ignorance. Abandonment of these things is to claim God. To claim God is to inherit the wisdom He possess to disentangle us from all opposition.
Matthew 16:25 explains that when we shed selfishness, we inherit life. Spirit. But when we choose selfishness, when our intention in the world becomes to gain the riches and values of the world, we lose our lives. Because the values of the world smother the flame of our spirit. Corruption of the world disintegrates our soul.
When we understand that, we understand why the battle at Ai was lost. The Israelites and all humans need to understand what can corrode their claim and ability to eternal life. For this life is temporary but the next is not.
Why cling to the one which is finite? Even if a fool manages to convince themselves that money, wealth, vanity and power have made them happy, proud and successful, it is short lived. Literally. Luke 16:19-31, Lazarus and the Rich Man, is corroboration of this lesson.
7:13 God's directive and strong suggestion to the Israelites (and of us!) is for them to review their faith, values and intentions. Sanctify yourselves, God instructs. Set yourself apart from evil and declare your holy purpose.
We can all benefit from doing "inventory" now and then to ensure that how we are living is aligned with how God has taught us to live. Life consistently presents new battles and therefore we need to be consistently prepared for them.
Issac was a man of meditation and reflection in faith, Genesis 24:63. The son of Abraham was faithful raised to be a child of God. The moment we spend with God as students are the most instrumental in our lives. Consistent sanctification is the active separation from corruption.
7:14-15 The plan is made to literally rid the camp and spirits of the Israelite from accursed things. Each tribe. Each family. Each member. God is a particular God. A specific God. When He weeds out evil, He pulls it up from the root.
When you invite God to do work in you, He is specific. Thorough. We are all flawed but He teaches us, every day, how to be better. Kinder. Wiser. More compassionate and generous. More selfless, more understanding of the entire fabric rather than just a string of thread.
7:16-18 The meticulous combing causes Achan's opposition to be found.
7:19 Joshua is deeply saddened and disappointed. His kindness to Achan is proof that Achan's opposition to God personally affects Joshua's own heart. Joshua was confident that the entire camp was steadfast in faith and love for God. Achan's betrayal hurts.
Joshua's emotions echo God's own. We are made in His image, we feel what He feels. It hurts Him to be betrayed by a child He loves so much.
7:20-21 Achan's explains that he gave in to covetousness and desire.
7:22-26 Achan's demise here is harsh but metaphorical and for a purpose. Life in opposition to God is harsh. It is painful to the soul to live in contradiction to God's natural philosophy. Opposition to God causes discontentment, frustration, anger, confusion and so much more. Whether we realize it or not, our soul is wise... wiser than we are, and without its proper nutrients, it weakens. We must not let our bodies have the power our soul can so much better reign.
