June 17, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK;
ACHAN’S SECRET SIN EXPOSED PUBLICLY BY GOD. “For God will bring every secret thing into judgment, whether they be good or evil.” Eccl. 12:14.
Continuing from yesterday: “God’s command has been disregarded by of those appointed to execute His judgments. And the NATION was held accountable for the guilt of the transgressor. THEY have even taken of the accursed thing
and have also STOLEN, and DISSEMBLED also’ instruction was given to Joshua for the discovery and punishment [judicial procedures] of the criminal. The [casting of] lots was to be employed for the DETECTION of the guilty. The sinner was NOT directly pointed out, the matter being left to DOUBT for a time, that the people might FEEL their RESPONSIBILITY for the sins existing among them, and thus be led to SEARCHING of HEART and HUMILIATION before God.
“Early in the morning [God, Jesus, the patriarchs & prophets all practiced early rising], Joshua gathered all the people together ‘by their tribes,’ and the solemn and impressive ceremony began [so is the investigative judgment taking place in heaven at this moment]. Step by step the investigation went on. Closer and still closer came the FEARFUL TEST.
“First the tribe, then the family, then the household, then the man was taken, and ACHAN the son of Carmi, of the tribe of Judah [take note: the kingly tribe!], was pointed out by the FINGER of God [the same finger that wrote the law twice on tables of stone in Sinai and wrote on the ground where the woman accused of adultery by the Pharisees stood, exposing the guilty ones-the hypocritical and lying accusers—the Pharisees themselves ‘from the oldest to the youngest’!], as the TROUBLER OF ISRAEL. [Note: apostate King Ahab accused the faithful prophet of God, Elijah, as being a “troubler of Israel.’ Thus it has been and always will be till the end: the guilty ones will falsely accuse the faithful, even as Jesus falsely accused and illegally tried by the Jewish Sanhedrin].
Beware of the hidden and secret sin of covetousness, for the Word of God classes selfishness as covetousness! Till tomorrow, God bless and keep all. NMF