Talk about a “community” mindset!

Read these two verses, the next increment in Joshua’s Saga, Holy Spirit inspired! “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.” Joshua 7:1

The whole Nation (“the children of Israel”) sinned, and was held accountable by Almighty God … because one man (“Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the Tribe of Judah”) stole some (forbidden) things!

Amazing!

And Israel (the whole Nation) lost the next battle, their first defeat in the Conquest of Canaan, because of this (one) man’s trespass!

In fact, 36 innocent Jewish soldiers died … because God withdrew His Presence, because of Achan’s selfish disobedience!

Verse 5 of Joshua 7 … “And the men of Ai SMOTE (KILLED) of them about THIRTY AND SIX men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.”

Get verses 11 and 12, God’s Rationale: “And the LORD said unto Joshua, ISRAEL HATH SINNED, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for THEY have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and THEY have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because THEY were accursed: NEITHER WILL I BE WITH YOU ANY MORE, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

One man’s sin … a whole Nation’s guilt!

And in the same sense, then … the sins of one City (Las Vegas or San Francisco or Atlanta or New York) could be a detriment to ALL of America!

This too I would add. The sins (either hidden … or known and allowed) in any given Church (though Bible believing, mind you) COULD retard the spiritual blessings of God on the whole congregation!

Not just COULD … WOULD!

DOES!

Something to think about this Monday morning, for sure!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Read again our Text today … “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.” Joshua 7:1