Josué 7

Josué 7

Barnes remarks, ‘The meaning here is not, “give God the praise for healing you,” but confess that you have declared to us a falsehood; and that you have endeavored to impose on us; and by thus confessing your sin give praise and honor to God, who condemns all imposture and falsehood; and whom you will thus acknowledge to be right in your condemnation.’ Nothing should be more deeply impressed upon the mind of the sinner, than that the humble and penitent confession of guilt tends directly to the glory of God, and that withholding confession is robbing him of his right, as well as incurring his displeasure. Tell me now what thou hast done. The testimony of God would have been sufficient, who could neither deceive nor be deceived. Joshua also, who was now knowing to his crime, might have declared it, but he could not prove it; and as it was intended that the offender should be made a public monument of justice, and be held up as a warning to the whole nation, it was desirable that the most indisputable evidence of his guilt should be adduced. He is made therefore himself to supply a testimony which none could controvert or doubt; even to bear witness against himself. Joshua requires this confession to be made to him, because he stood, both to Achan and to the people, in God’s stead. It was in effect the same, therefore, as making it to God himself. Joshua 7:20 So Achan answered Joshua and said, "Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: Truly: Ge 42:21 Ex 10:16 Nu 22:34 1Sa 15:24,30 Job 7:20 33:27 Ps 38:18 Mt 27:4 Joshua 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Proverbs 28:13+ He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper (UNDERSTATEMENT IN CASE OF ACHAN!), But (PRAISE GOD FOR THIS MERCY FILLED "TERM OF CONTRAST"!) he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. Alan Carr comments - God’s way is for His people to throw the covers off their sins and tell God the truth that He already knows. He can bless a person who handles sin the Biblical way. However, the person who tries to hide his sins will never prosper, but will face God in judgment. You see, you will confess you sins one way or another. You can confess them where the confession will make a difference, or you will do it when you face the Lord in Judgment. Either way, you will confess your sins—Phil. 2:11.) ACHAN TESTIFIES AGAINST HIMSELF Yes Achan confesses but he does not repent! He got caught and really had no choice but to confess! Achan reminds us of our confessors who were not repenters - Pharaoh, Balaam, Judas. THOUGHT - Beloved, may God's Spirit grant each of us the desire and power to confess our sin(s) before it is too late and also to repent or turn from that sin or sins! For Jesus' sake. Amen So Achan answered Joshua and said, "Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did - Achan's first recorded words were "It is true" (NET) Achan expresses good theology in acknowledging his sin is against Yahweh, as is ALL sin. Achan's theology was correct but unfortunately not "corrective" as it had been centuries earlier in the life of a young man named Joseph. He could have confessed when he heard Joshua's plan to determine the sinner. When confession is delayed or put off, the heart tends to get hard. There is no sorrow for his sin, disobedience, betrayal of his nation for booty or for the cause of the deaths of 36 people. The Lord was also giving the guilty person time to repent if he wanted too. David did repent of his sin and was pardoned (Psalm 32:1–5; 51:1–12). The Ninevites repented of their sins and were spared. Genesis 39:9 (JOSEPH SAW BUT WAS RESTRAINED BY A HOLY FEAR OF GOD) “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” (See also David's words in Ps 51:4 AFTER he had sinned with Bathsheba). See Related Resource - Expulsive Power of a New Affection 2 Timothy 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Campbell - Achan’s response was straightforward and complete. He confessed his sin and gave no excuses. But neither did he express sorrow for disobeying God’s order, betraying his nation for booty, and causing the defeat of Israel’s troops and the death of 36 men. Any remorse he may have felt was probably only because he got caught. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary ) Mattoon - Achan had five opportunities to repent when you think about it. Five is the number of grace in the Bible. According to verse 16–18, he could have spoken up when these groups were confronted … Israel, Judah, Zarhites, Zabdi, and Carmi. (Treasures from Joshua) Achan's response also reminds me of two other less than stellar Old Testament characters... Exodus 10:16 Then Pharaoh hurriedly called for Moses and Aaron, and he said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. Numbers 22:34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.” Alan Carr - Some confessed their sins and were forgiven. David – He was confronted with his sins, he confessed afterwards and he was forgiven, 2 Sa 12. So did Nineveh, Jonah 3. What’s the difference? David and Nineveh were sincere in their repentance. They was sorry for their sins. Achan was only sorry that he got caught!. This is not God’s method for handling sin! God’s way is for people to be open and honest about their sins and for them to confess those sins to the Lord, Pr 28:13. God’s way is for His people to throw the covers off their sins and tell Him the truth that He already knows. He can bless a person who handles sin the Biblical way. (Some Things Can't Be Hidden) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 7 20. Indeed I have sinned &c. The confession, though not made till it was extorted, was finally made with great frankness and ingenuousness. He recites the circumstances of the act in all their particulars, and with all their aggravations; attempts no excuse or extenuation; complains not of the severity of the sentence, nor seeks to prevent or delay its execution; from which we may indulge the hope, however feeble, that the poor culprit found mercy for his soul. Joshua 7:21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it." I saw: Ge 3:6 6:2 2Sa 11:2 Job 31:1 Ps 119:37 Pr 23:31 28:22 Mt 5:28,29 1Jn 2:15,16 I coveted: Ex 20:17 De 7:25 1Ki 21:1,2 2Ki 5:20-27 Hab 2:9 Lu 12:15 Ro 7:7,8 Eph 5:3 Col 3:5 1Ti 6:9,10 Heb 13:5 2Pe 2:15 took them: Pr 4:23 Mic 2:1,2 Jas 1:15 they are concealed: 2Sa 11:6-17 2Ki 5:24,25 Isa 28:15 29:15 Lu 12:2 Joshua 7 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Luke 11:34+ (ACHAN'S EYE WAS BAD) The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. (NLT = Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness.) Luke 12:2+ (ACHAN'S FAILED COVERUP) “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Colossians 3:5KJV+ (ACHAN WAS AN IDOLATER!) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: James 1:14-16+ But each one is (present tense - continually) tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust (ENERGIZED BY the flesh) . 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived (present imperative with a negative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey = STOP BEING DECEIVED BY YOUR FALLEN FLESH!) my beloved brethren. Comment - Note the pattern - See the "lure" (implied) > Take the bait (AND THE BAIT TAKES YOU!) Psalm 101:3 (GOOD ANTIDOTE AGAINST AN "ACHAN" HEART) I will set no worthless thing before my eyes (INSTEAD PRACTICE Heb 12:2); I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me. 1Ti 6:8-10 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Malachi 3:8+ “Will a man rob God? (WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT ACHAN DID!) Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. Achan conceals the evidence of his sin THE CRUCIAL STEPS OF HIS SIN - SEE - COVET - TAKE - HIDE! When I saw among the spoil (shalal) a beautiful (tob - same word used in Ge 3:6 "good for food") mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels (see Ancient Near East Weights and Volumes) of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it - There is probably not a better description of the deceitfulness and seductive effect of sin in all the Bible. Saw, coveted, took and concealed. Notice he calls the LORD's goods, "spoil," which normally referred to the booty that a conquering army can could after a victory. His thinking was already perverted and poised for commission of sin! Had he looked and saw it not as booty but as ban, he may have been less likely to covet. But he basically "lost his mind," (that is the deceitfulness of sin), and completely discounted the warning of a flashing red light saying "Stop!" in Joshua 6:18! He either forgot it, did not believe it or selfishly ignored it! The eye saw; the heart desired; and the will took.