Quick Justice

God Instructs the People of God

God's People Learn from Prosperity:

God Reacts to Disobedience

Joshua 7:16-2, 24-26

The Message

 ^16-18 Joshua was up at the crack of dawn and called Israel up tribe by tribe. The tribe of Judah was singled out. Then he called up the clans and singled out the Zerahites. He called up the Zerahite families and singled out the Zabdi family. He called up the family members one by one and singled out Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah.
 ¹⁹ Joshua spoke to Achan, "My son, give glory to God, the God of Israel. Make your confession to him. Tell me what you did. Don't keep back anything from me."
 ^20-21 Achan answered Joshua, "It's true. I sinned against God, the God of Israel. This is how I did it. In the plunder I spotted a beautiful Shinar robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a fifty-shekel bar of gold, and I coveted and took them. They are buried in my tent with the silver at the bottom."

²⁴ Joshua took Achan son of Zerah, took the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his ox, donkey, sheep, and tent—everything connected with him. All Israel was there. They led them off to the Valley of Achor (Trouble Valley).
 ^25-26 Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? God will now trouble you. Today!" And all Israel stoned him—burned him with fire and stoned him with stones. They piled a huge pile of stones over him. It's still there. Only then did God turn from his hot anger. That's how the place came to be called Trouble Valley right up to the present time.

For Reflection
It's easier to see these passages from Joshua as metaphoric.  A single act of disobedience carries grave consequences to the whole nation.  The whole nation takes responsibility for quick action to purify itself.  As a metaphor it carries a strong lesson.

As a description of a real event it carries authenticity.  Even if you think the punishment did not fit the crime,  the process of justice is not to far from our own contemporary values.  Justice is not easy. In this case God was the accuser and the deliverer of justice.  It was not the Israelites decision it was God's.

Pray
for the forgiveness of sin.  Pray that you give justice matters to God.  Pray that you place your soul in the hands of Jesus Christ.  Pray in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.