March 24, 2025 -Why Ask Why

JOSHUA 7:1

1 CHRONICLES 2:7

JOSHUA 7:2-9:27

Chronological Bible Readings

Joshua 7:10 But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? 11 Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings.

When the Israelites lost the battle and instead of Joshua going to God and saying you said that as long as we follow your rules you will give us victory so what did we do wrong? He asks "...why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us?..." He call God "Sovereign Lord" but then questions His reasons. The reason is not surprising since God told them that disobedience would result in loss of victory.

Joshua 7:16 Early the next morning Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Judah was singled out. 17 Then the clans of Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of Zerah came forward, and the family of Zimri was singled out. 18 Every member of Zimri’s family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out.

Had Achan come clean when Joshua tells them why God was angry it would have saved a lot of time. Maybe he was like my son. He would deny his wrongdoing with adamant passion even until I would hold the evidence in front of his face. May Achan thought that God wasn't really going to reveal him to Joshua. May as well wait to see what happens. The outcome for him will be the same.

Joshua7:18 Every member of Zimri’s family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out.

19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don’t hide it from me.”

20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.”

God does just what He says He will do so Achan has to confess. I find it funny that he saw all these things that he wanted so much but they did him no good. He had them hidden in the ground under his tent. He couldn't use or even see the things that he coveted so they were useless. They held no value in the end. His actions only served to end in the death of him and his family. How sad. How often do we crave the things that God has told us no to or put limits on for us. Things that are limited for our own good, but we want them so much. Then when we get them they bring us nothing but pain and heartache. It is always better to seek God and do things His way than to chase after useless things that will have no value in the end.