SCRIPTURE: Joshua 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Achan replied, ‘It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath. [Joshua 7:20]
Achan was tempted by worldly wealth, and he ended up messing things up for Israel.
His sin had a collective consequence – as all sin does.
Not only his family suffered, but also the families of the 36 men who died in Ai, and also the moral of the whole nation with their defeat.
The ripple effect of sin is HUGE!
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’ ‘What is that to us?’ they replied. ‘That’s your responsibility.’ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. [Matthew 27:3-5]
The Pharisees did not understand this collective consequence.
‘What is that to us?’ they replied, ‘That’s your responsibility.’
In fact, it was something to them.
The consequences of Judas’ sin was misery for many, including Jesus.
Fortunately, God turned his sin into mercy.
He turned the tables on Judas and the Pharisees, and accomplished the salvation of the world through their sin.
Our sin has HUGE consequences, and many people suffer as a result of our greed, selfishness, apathy, disregard, cruelty, hurtful words, etc.
How many people have we wounded by our words or actions, or lack of them?
How has our love for money or things gotten in the way of our love for our family or friends or those in need around us? How has our worldliness been the cause of the weakness or decline of the ministry of Jesus through our church?
If we truly saw the ripple effect of our sin, we too would despair, like Judas.
Fortunately we can see God’s mercy overcome our sin.
We cannot be proud of our track records, but we can look with hope to God and His mercy.
He brings good things out of our garbage.
He makes straight hits with our crooked sticks.
He takes what we intend for evil, and turns it toward good.
Yes, our sin affects many, but His grace abounds even more – beyond the affects of our sin.
Thank God for that!
PRAYER:
Lord, like Achan and Judas, my sin hurts those I love the most. Thank You for overcoming my evil with Your good. Help me to strive, with Your help, to do as much good as I can.