Tag: Achan

Take Time to Talk and Listen to God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13696/day/29

I read two devotionals this morning that had a recurring theme, that of talking to God before carrying out my plans. As Tina Wilson said in her book “Step into Scripture” for today’s devotional, “We blaze ahead with our plans, not thinking of what God wants or seeking him first. Then, when things fall apart, we wonder why God let it happen.” The important words are OUR plans and not seeking God first. I confess that this is a great fault of mine, to make plans and forge ahead. Then, in the middle of a mess and chaos that I never expected, I ask God what happened and why He wasn’t there. You know why, don’t you? I didn’t pause to talk to Him first, ask Him what plan He would like me to follow and then listen to Him. Joshua made this mistake in attacking Ai, and there was a consequence to pay for it. We don’t get out of the messes that we make unscathed. God wants us to learn the important lesson of calling on him FIRST, then executing the plan that He has put into our hearts. Good to remember that God loves us enough to keep us straight about just Who is in control!

Confronting Greed

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13696/day/28

The lesson we learn from Achan, Ananias and Sapphira is twofold (or perhaps even more). First, we learn that greed in any form has severe consequences. Achan was stoned to death whereas Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead after they lied, all of them trying to hide their own greed. The second lesson is that you cannot hide your sin from God. He sees all, knows all and deals with sin according to His justice system. When we look around at our leaders today, how many of them display greed? I would dare say all of them in some form or another. How many fear God and the consequences of their sin? I don’t want to even guess if any of them do, but I would say that number is small. I am not pronouncing judgment on anyone because that is not my responsibility, but I will say that it would be wise for our leaders to confess, repent and come before the Lord with an honest heart than to face His judgment. God is always the same and He hates sin. How much account will our leaders have to give to God for leading an entire nation of people astray, to worship the false gods of fame, greed and self-aggrandizement. One of God’s key attributes that He seeks is humility. May we remember that and come before Him in true repentance for ourselves and in prayer for our nation and its leaders.