Daily Devotion 08/03/18
Joshua 7:1, 25 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
25 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.
The Jewish people, also called Israelites, were in the process of taking over Canaan which is present day Middle East. This would be the country that the Israelites would own and be established in when the Messiah would come into the world. Jericho was a major city in this country, and God had instructed all the people to give everything from Jericho to him as an offering. Everything belonged to the Lord. The plunder from other cities would be theirs but this one’s was God’s. After the battle, Achan slowly looked left to right. When he saw no one was looking, he took some of the plunder to keep as his own. He stole directly from God, and how serious does God take stealing? So serious that Achan was stoned to death and burned as described in verse 25.
You and I steal from God. We steal his time. We steal his money. And why don’t we feel God’s wrath? Because of Jesus. Jesus never stole anything in his life except one thing: our sins. He took them from us and claimed them as his own. So God’s anger was taken out on him, instead of us. Because of Jesus and his sacrifice, you will never have to face God’s wrath. Instead, you receive his love and forgiveness every day. You receive the riches of heaven through Jesus your Savior. Realize you are rich spiritually. Be thankful for those riches from Jesus. Share those riches with everyone you know.