Defiance and Defeat

I've been reading in Joshua the story of how the Israelites were defeated at Ai, immediately after their resounding victory at Jericho.  They couldn't believe that after such success, came crushing defeat. 

The Lord had led them to defeat Jericho but told them not to take any of the spoils for themselves, because certain items were to be devoted to the Lord.  They were explicitly told, in Joshua 6:18-19 "by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.  But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord."
The Lord's command was very clear and unambiguous. 

Achan decided to disobey, and take from Jericho, some of the items which were to be consecrated to the Lord, and his defiance not only consequently brought defeat at Ai, but cost him and his family their lives, just as God had clearly told them would happen if they disobeyed. 

God finds Joshua flat on his face wailing and moping after their defeat at Ai, and basically tells him he can't expect to be victorious against his enemy, whilst disobedience and defiance run rampant in the camp.   God's presence was no longer with them.  However he gives them a chance to put it right and come into communion with him again once the sin was purged from among them.

It made me wonder about the sins we harbour in our own lives, or try to hide, as Achan did, hoping no one will notice.  The things that God can't bless us in.  The things that cause Him to turn His face from us because He is a Holy God.  Are we being defeated in areas of our lives and pretending we don't know why?  Are we on our faces crying out to the Lord, "Why me?" when we know we are breaking his commands and breaking His heart?  Do we think there are no consequences to our sin?  Of course there are.  Unless we get before God and confess, seeking his forgiveness, the consequence will be the same as Achan faced.  Spiritual and physical death. 

Each of us may have our own "accursed thing" that is keeping us from a closer walk with God.  Have we gone our own way even though He's blessed us and given us victory in certain areas of our lives? Have we become cocky in our own strength?   Do we think we know better and can flout his commands and expect Him to turn a blind eye?  When God gives us his Word, and we deliberately disobey it, we have no excuse.  We cannot say "but I didn't know ..." because he makes his expectations very clear.  Whether we like them or not is a different matter.  We are to be consecrated and set apart, a holy people, not conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds.  What things have a hold on us that we need to release?  What are the things we are holding onto out of selfish ambition?  What things do we need to fall on our face before God about, sincerely seeking his forgiveness and help? 

I am not a believer in the prosperity gospel.  God does not bless us with financial gain, perfect health, a bigger house, a fancy car, the salvation of our children on demand, etc, just because we're saved or because we speak it into existence with positive words or because we've paid lip service to conquering a few more sins.  He promises us that in the final analysis, all things will work together for good (Romans 8:28) but we're not promised plain sailing in this world.  Quite the opposite in fact.  We're told we WILL have trouble in this world, but the good news is that Christ has overcome the world.  Addressing the hidden sin in our lives is not the green card to your happy ever after on this earth, but it is the key to a closer walk with your Saviour.  Let's throw off the things that have even a whiff of evil about them, so that we are unencumbered and able to follow the path laid out before us in order to claim the rewards we are promised in heaven. 

It's important for all of us to turn over to God, those things that we know the Holy Spirit is convicting us of.  Flirting with your co-workers is not innocent. Gossiping is not harmless.  Arrogance is not becoming.  Immodesty is provocative and Jezebel-like.  Impatience is not "just the way you are".  Sleeping with your partner just because you're getting married anyway, is not ok.  Seek His Word.  Pursue holiness. 

Obedience brings victory, but defiance brings defeat. 

Lord open our eyes to the accursed things in our own lives that we may gain favour in your eyes and be close to you once again.

Pie of the Humble kind

Proverbs 1:7b 

"Fools despise wisdom and instruction"

I've been a Christian since I was 7 years old.  I was brought up in a bible believing church, attended Sunday school, youth meetings, prayer meetings, weekend socials, church camp, and even taught Sunday school to pre-schoolers.

You'd think I'd have a great grasp of the Word of God, wouldn't you?  Well, I certainly thought so.  I did well in the Quizzes, the Sunday School exams, I read "the manual" of my church as a teenager, I kept a diary of my daily devotions and prayer times, I highlighted passages in my bible, stuffed it full of "holy" bookmarks and was thrilled when it started to  fall apart because that meant it had seen a great deal of use and I must be a pretty good Christian as a result.

I coasted along nicely until I met someone who started to say things that challenged my core beliefs.  The things that the bible definitely told me.  I read it.  It was in there.  I don't know where, but it was in there.  How dare they say such things when I knew better.  How dare they be so sure THEY were right when it was obvious I was right and they were wrong?  And anyway, they'd only been saved 5 minutes. 

"Did you know it wasn't actually an apple in the garden of Eden that Eve took?  The bible doesn't say it was an apple".

"Do you know the sinner's prayer is not biblical at all?  You won't find anyone mentioning it in the bible".

"Do you know that repentance means to "change your mind"?

What?  Of course it was an apple!  It's right there in Genesis!  We were taught all about the forbidden fruit and it was an apple!  And what do you mean the sinner's prayer isn't in the bible? How else are we supposed to ask Jesus into our heart? What do you mean that's another phrase that's man made?  And I'm good with words. I KNOW Repentance means to say you're sorry.  So there.  Go back and rethink your position. 

Such simple things I'd picked up and believed without questioning; things I'd taken for granted for most of my adult life.  What an eye opener to actually realise I had been wrong all this time.  Pass me a shovel for this humble pie I have to eat. 

No one likes to be proved wrong, especially in an area they see themselves as an expert.  And especially NOT by someone who is a newbie to the whole Christianity thing and has barely started his walk with God. 

It sparked more of a hunger for the Word of God.  The true, unadulterated, actual, unambiguous Word, to understand more.  Where else had I been wrong?  I needed to put it right and not carry on down the path of blind assumption.

God has been gracious in opening my eyes to things I hadn't noticed before.  Small things perhaps, but things that are exciting to learn about.  Bigger things too.  Things that matter. 

So after I got over being humiliated by that man, and having to rethink some pretty basic things, I did the only thing I could do.  I married him!

Sometimes we are quick to shut someone down because of our own arrogance and pride.  Especially if that person has a colourful past.  Maybe we look at their lives and see the sin they have been delivered from, and lord it over them.  Maybe we don't want to take advice from someone like that.  We operate on a "what do they know?" mentality. 

What right do we have?  Can't God use broken and dirty vessels once he's taken them, fixed them, and given them a purpose?  Of course He can.  He makes all things beautiful in His time.  Some of us take longer than others.  I'm just grateful for a Godly husband to make this journey with me.  We may be imperfect but we are His and He's at work in us.