Joshua 7:2-4

Joshua 7:2-4 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. After the great victory at Jericho, Joshua became overconfident. His advance forces said that Ai was just a little town and all of the army needn’t bother. Only three thousand men went up against Ai. But they were whipped! They came slinking back into camp with thirty-six good men dead. Joshua fell on his face before the Lord in bitter prayer, but the Lord told him to get up. There was sin in the camp. One of the soldiers had disobeyed orders and had stolen some of the forbidden spoils from Jericho. God would not bless Joshua’s army with a traitor among them. After an investigation, Joshua discovered that Achan was the culprit, and he was stoned to death. Although this seems harsh, Achan’s sin had caused the death of thirty-eight of his fellow soldiers. God doesn’t play around. Sin must be punished with death. I am so glad that Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and died in our place on Calvary! God not only demanded punishment for sin, God provided the payment and the sacrifice for sin. God is not only holy and perfect, God is loving and forgiving. Remember the children’s song, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so”. It is true.