Thankful

Scripture:
Joshua 7:1 “But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban…therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.”

Observation:
Joshua is a really tough passage to understand. There are some tough issues that are really hard to get my mind around that cannot be ignored. In chapter 6 Israel takes Jericho and they all shout because God had given them the city. Now all of the belongings in the city were to be destroyed. Everything! Then God tells the people not to take things that were under the ban because it would cause them to sin and Israel would be accursed (6:18). It was discovered later that Achan had taken a bunch stuff he was not supposed to take. God tells Joshua that the people need to get up and purify themselves. Achan comes forward and admits that he stole things. But this did not remove him from having to face the consequence of death. He sinned against God and had to pay the price of his own life. God is serious about paying the price of sin.

Application:
Even in all the things of God that I do not understand I come to see a couple of things.
1) God will not tolerate sin.
2) A price will be paid even if sin is admitted.

Today that makes my heart fill up with gratitude for the cross. Today is that day that Jesus shared the last supper with the disciples, having loved them he showed them the full extent of his love (John 13). He washed their feet. He ate. He went to the cross.

It brings to mind what the writer of Hebrews said, “Through Him (Jesus) let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise which is the fruit of lips that give thanks.”(Heb. 13:15) It also makes me think of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us form all unrighteousness.” The price has been paid by Jesus to satisfy God’s justice so that I do not have to die. So I will remember today to continually thank Him to glorify his Name.

Prayer:
Thank You Jesus for what You have done.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming