In the book of Joshua, we learned how Eleazar’s son Phinehas and ten princes asked the tribe of Reuben, Gad and one-half the tribe of Manasseh, “What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that you have builded you an altar, that you might rebel this day against the LORD? Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD. But that you must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing you rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel. Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass you over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD'S tabernacle dwells, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty of Joshua we learn how Phinehas and the priests say, “if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass you over unto the land of the possession of the LORD” where we read,
Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing,
and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
The verse reads, “Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “did not Achan the son of Zerah” which means “was it not so that Achan whose name means ‘troubler’ and was a Judaite who violated God's specific ban on taking any loot from the captured city of Jericho and was stoned to death along with his family for this violation who was the male offspring belonging to Zerah or Zarah whose name means ‘rising’ and was a son of Reuel and grandson of Esau, one of the dukes of the Edomites”, “commit a trespass” or “act unfaithfully, treacherously and against God” “in the accursed thing” which means “within the devoted, dedicated and banned act and deed”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Phinehas and the ten princes” questioned the people of “Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh” by referring to the unfaithful and treacherous act performed by “Achan”. (See Joshua 7:1)
The verse goes on to say, “and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and wrath fell on the all the congregation of Israel” which means “and anger, rage, strife and indignation came upon and happened to each, the whole and everyone belonging to the assembly belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”? “and that man perished” or “and that male human being, Achan, expired, died and gave up the ghost” “not alone in his iniquity” which means “not by himself within his, Achan’s, perversity, depravity, guilt and consequence”. Joshua or the writer shared how “anger and indignation” came upon everyone in “Israel”, and “Achan” died, but not by himself in his transgression. (Achan’s family also died in the incident.)
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how “Phinehas and the ten princes” questioned whether the people of “Reuben, Gad and one half tribe of Manasseh” recalled how “Achan” acted treacherously by taking items that were not to be taken in Jericho. His deed caused all of “Israel” to be penalized and thirty men lost their lives because of it. Sometimes remembering consequences from the past may keep us from repeating offenses, however because we “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. (See Romans 3:23) God’s saving grace is given to us through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of everyone, and He was resurrected from the dead after three days, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, we will be forgiven o our sins, granted everlasting life and
Next time we learn how, “the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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