Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Joshua 7-9; Luke 15
Devotional Thought:
Title: “The Awful Pathway to Destruction”
Joshua had made it clear in chapter 6 that God had cursed Jericho and that although God was going to give a clear victory, the soldiers were not to take anything from this cursed city. God said He would curse anyone who took anything from this cursed city. However, we find in one verse Satan’s ploy to destroy people by sinful decisions. Joshua 7:21 says, “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.” We find that Satan took Eve down this same pathway as well as Sampson and David and a host of others throughout scripture. It is the same path he tries to take people today. 2 Corinthians 2:11 is certainly true, we should not allow Satan to get an advantage, because we are not ignorant of his devices. God has exposed the lies and agenda of Satan, but all too often people ignore the Lord and fall prey to the awful pathway to destruction. First, the devil gets us to just look at sin. If it is out of bounds then we must never allow ourselves to look at it. The more we look at sin the more curious and interesting it becomes. Satan also knows that if we will look at sin long enough, we will begin to desire it in our hearts. The word “covet” that Achan claims was a discontentment without it. Looking at sin will lead him to the next step in the pathway to destruction. Secondly, we will desire or covet sinful things. Achan looked at the clothes, the gold, and the silver and he wanted it. He could not look away, but rather desired it so badly that he devised a way to get it, ignoring the warnings and consequences that Joshua had given. It is so sad to watch people buy into the lies of the Devil in the desiring of things that God forbids. However, if they had never allowed themselves to stare at those things, they would have not developed the appetite for them. Thirdly, once we have a desire for something that is wrong, the only thing we lack is an opportunity. The devil will certainly bring opportunities for us to participate once we have developed wrong appetites. The opportunity was right before Achan and he took the things that were forbidden and believed the lie that he could escape the consequences. It is sad how our decisions affect those around us. Achan’s sin not only caused a defeat in Ai, discouraged Joshua and the children of Israel after a great victory, caused the death of 36 people, and as we will see, greatly affected his family. We must acknowledge that our sin affect more than just ourselves. How selfish we are to do self-serving acts, knowing that our sin affects others. The fourth stage is the most dangerous in that we hide our sin. It is sad that the Devil deceives people into thinking that God does not see everything we do. Our Bible still says, “be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num. 32:23) However, down the pathway to destruction, people sin and think they will get away with it without any consequences. Achan told Joshua, “the things are hid under my tent.” What the Devil did not tell Achan was how things would end. The Devil never lets us read the last chapter of the book. Joshua took Achan and his family and stoned them with stones, and placed his possessions, along with the clothes, gold, and silver and burned them with fire. I cannot think of a sadder story in the Bible. All Achan had to do was obey the Lord, but he thought he could sin and win. May we learn the pathway to destruction is never worth it. May we avoid sin’s destruction through obedience to God’s word.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to discern the lies of the Devil. May I have a clear understanding of truth so his lies are exposed.
• Lord, please help me to exalt the truths of your word, and the character of my Savior. May I desire to please you because my eyes are fixed on you. May I look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.
• Lord, thank you for promising me victory over every temptation, if I will simply be controlled by the Spirit of God. Please help me to stay yielded to you each day.