The disobedience of one individual touches the whole community

Joshua 7:1-26

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.

So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.

The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.

Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done

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. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.

Achor means trouble.

Because Achan defied God's ban 36 men died at Ai, and the whole nation was shamed before their Canaanite enemies. The disobedience of one individual touches the whole community: where wrong has been done there is corporate, as well as individual, accountability.

Why?

The Lord is holy no one can cheat before the Lord. Jerico is the Holy war to the Lord, but Achan has stolen the devoted as their property.

One man's disobedience of one individual touches the whole community.  To be a Christian or member of a church, everyone should be aware we are family of the Lord, everyone should do our job and be faithful to the Lord.

The first fruit belongs to the Lord, which means we have to give thanks to the Lord for all of the victories are the grace of the Lord, so it is devoted to the Lord.

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從戰爭來看打了一場勝戰。不可取當滅的物，要歸耶和華。人容易在經歷神蹟後變驕傲。

攻艾城，因為人少，不用都去，如果人多就都去，如果更多就不要去嗎？人得勝後，就憑自己來判斷，不用再依靠神了。

亞干在有困難時要聽神的話，當困難解除後就沒有那麼聽話了。亞干是否順服看對他是否有利。合理的我順服，不合理的我不順服。順服是順服神，不合理的也要順服。得勝唯一的途徑是順服。耶律哥高牆不是最可怕，人心才是最可怕的。得勝的關鍵在神同在，神同在在於人聽話，得勝後人最易放鬆，成為下次失敗的原因。得勝以後繼續聽話成為重要因素。

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How?

May my mind and my heart be faithful to the Lord. Dear Lord, please forgive me, for I have sins of selfishness.