In the book of Joshua in the Old Testament, we can read about the nation of Israel and how God led them into the promised land, the land of Canaan. As they come into the land that God had given to them, we read first about the city of Jericho and the amazing way in which the Lord destroyed the city. But then, we come to the city of Ai, and the tables are turned. The men of the city of Ai killed several of the Israelites and pursued them. What happened? I thought God had promised the land to the Israelites? However, if you read Joshua chapter 7, you’ll find that a man named Achan had disobeyed God by looting some of the items from the city of Jericho, when God had said don’t take anything from the city!
Look at what God said to Joshua, “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things. Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.” (Joshua 7:11-12)
We may think “How could God do that just because of ONE MAN?” However, to me that is a reminder of how much God hates sin and disobedience! All Achan did was take a few things from the city of Jericho. It wouldn’t seem like that big of a deal, since the city of Jericho had been destroyed anyway! But that is not the point. The point is, GOD had told them NOT to take anything! It’s not how unimportant or how meaningless something is that matters. It only matters what GOD has commanded. We too often look lightly at sin and disobedience to Almighty God. And then, we too wonder why God doesn’t work in our lives. God said to Joshua (and the nation of Israel) “I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.”
Remember, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (1 John 1:5-6) We cannot expect God’s blessing on our lives when we are disobeying Him. Sin and fellowship with God do not mix! If you want God to be with you and guide you, you must destroy the things in your life that displease and dishonor Him!