17/11/2011 - AFTER MAKING AMENDS

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Now the LORD said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.

Joshua 8:1

Achan was an Israeli who caused his people to lose the battle against the small city of Ai. Driven by a sense of greed, he took a few things from the spoils which the Lord had forbidden: a wedge of gold, silver and a Babylonian garment (Joshua 7:21); as a result, his people were defeated; he walked away from the Lord and was stoned to death along with his family.

This biblical story tells us that a single sin of which the person does not repent can cause him and his family to be punished not only here on Earth, but they can also be taken to eternal damnation. Today many people are in the hands of oppressive spirits for having committed some transgression and not confessing it. But woe to those who sin and keep on doing it, who keep lying instead of confessing their wrongdoings and who do not repent!

No one witnessed Achan’s trespass – except God, the Omniscient. Joshua, in turn, had torn his clothes without realizing who was to blame for what had happened: he might have even suggested it was the Lord’s fault for not having given them the victory. However, the successor of Moses had to learn that the Almighty is good and that He would never do harm to His servants (Lamentations 3:25).

As soon as Achan was slain, the Lord repeated the promise He had made to Joshua. The same will happen when God’s children depart from sin. How folly it is to hide wrongdoings! Obviously, it is best not to sin but if you have done it, do not hesitate to confess the transgression in order to obtain forgiveness. Trying to cover up the error is the most absurd thing to do because the devil will have you in his hands and will overwhelm you with all his wickedness. So if you have fallen, make amends to the Father and with the person against whom you sinned. Get rid of your guilt so that Satan will not reach you with his arrows.

Joshua was reminded that he could not fear nor be dismayed – two things we should never do. We should not be afraid because this feeling gives the enemy a foothold in our lives; after all, the spirit of fear is sent by the enemy, not by God. Also, we should not be dismayed. The devil is a master at trying to cause us fear, but regardless of what our ordeal is the Lord promised to be with us forever (Isaiah 43:2)

God ordered that commander of Israel to take all people of war with him. My brethren, all the powerful verses that the Lord has given you are like soldiers fighting in your favor. We must summon up all the revelations of power and confront the one who has already been defeated by our Savior. In so doing, Satan will be destroyed and you will be victorious. Once you feel you are armed like a warrior of the Lord, get up and go to war keeping in mind that the Lord has given you the victory. In fact, our battle has been won by our Savior when He died and rose for us! 

In Christ with love, 

R. R. Soares