Joshua 7:21

New international Version (NIV)

When I saw … I coveted them and took them.

For Mediation

Nobody saw or knew it. It was his secret; and he died on its poison. He knew it was wrong, but he did it anyway. How else would he have hidden the beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels in the ground in his tent (Jos. 7:21)? But did he think beyond the rush of selfish desire that momentarily came upon him?

The thing is, when the eye targets something and the mind registers its glitter, the flesh in its weakness, strongly demands satisfaction. We may not necessary need the item, but we cannot resist its draw. Achan identified his nemesis as covetousness. The last I checked, covetousness moved in tandem with greed, her twin sister. If ever there was a magnetic pull stronger than gravity, those twins are the real deal. So Achan capitulated to their lure just as his great, great ancestors, Adam and Eve, did.

Covetousness and greed respect nobody. They have conquered servants, masters and mistresses, doctors, lawyers, kings, queens, politicians, apostles and other ministers of the gospel. Ask King David for a report of his meeting with the twin sisters and sense the horror of that encounter. Achan could have given him some advice; and we will all do well listening to their counsel today.

Joshua was incensed by Achan’s confession. Achan had dishonored God by his unfaithfulness, and God’s wrath had come upon Israel.

You don’t grieve over sin and its ugliness. You don’t slice part of it off and hold on to the other. You deal with it to its core. As leader of defeated Israel, Joshua could not elect sympathy over the holiness of God and the welfare of the nation. The law was unambiguous; so Achan and his entire household perished at its command (24-16).

The pity for all who fall for the alluring charm of the covetousness and greed is that God always has what they coveted or something better reserved next door for them, but they miss it. If only Achan had waited just a little while. If only he had called for reinforcement from patience and contentment against the twin sisters!

In the next battle against Ai, God had dedicated the plunder and livestock to the soldiers (8:2). Achan had his share in them, but he lost it all with his life. The pity is how the family suffers along with the covetous all the time.

1. So, can you be a little patient for the right suitor, young lady?
2. How about you who desire a promotion?
3. Can you trust God’s wisdom and faithfulness?
4. Can you call on the Holy Spirit for self-control?
5. Will He deny you any good thing?

I pray you patiently resist covetousness and greed to overcome their temptation in Christ.

Never forget this: “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6).

Shalom