How would you respond if something you wanted was plentiful, but you had been told not to take any? Would you leave it alone or feel tempted? Temptation is an invitation to sin, often testing faith and obedience to God.
After His people had wandered in the wilderness for forty years, God was bringing them into their inheritance. As they approached Jericho, He gave them instructions about the city’s plunder: “The silver and gold and everything made of bronze and iron belong to the Lord and must be put in his treasury. Be careful to follow these instructions, because if you see something you want and take it, the Lord will destroy Israel. And it will be all your fault.” (Joshua 6:18-19 CEV). Despite this warning, one man chose to follow his own desires rather than God’s commands. “But Achan from the Judah tribe took some of the things from Jericho for himself. And so the Lord was angry with the Israelites, because one of them had disobeyed him.” (Joshua 7:1). Achan took the items in secret, but God saw what he had done.
God warned His people that disobedience would lead to Israel’s destruction. Their next battle was against Ai, a relatively small nation that did not require the full army to fight. Yet the Israelites were forced to retreat because Achan’s disobedience affected the entire nation. Joshua’s investigation identified Achan, and both he and his family lost their lives. We all face daily temptations, whether to eat something we shouldn’t or visit a place we should avoid. Disobeying God’s word can have deadly consequences—not only for us, but also for those connected to us.
Thought for Today: Friend, say no to disobedience.
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Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.
