Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December 8
Monday


HERE COMES
THE BOSS!

READ:
Joshua 7:16-22
_________________________________________

If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
__1 John 1:9
_________________________________________

A number of computer games come with a special feature called the "Boss key." If you're playing a game when you're supposed to be working, and someone (like the boss) walks into your office, you quickly strike the Boss key. Your computer screen changes immediately, hiding what you've been doing.

Trying to hide from others when we've done something wrong comes naturally. We may feel guilty, but our desire to avoid admitting our responsibility is often stronger than our guilt.

Achan tried to hide his sin. He had stolen silver and gold and hidden it in his tent (Josh. 7:20-21). But when the Israelites were defeated in battle, the Lord told their leader Joshua that the loss was due to sin in the camp (vv.11-12). The Lord identified Achan as the one who had sinned. And even through Achan confessed, he and his family were executed (v.25).

We may not understand why God dealt so harshly with Achan's sin, but we do know He was instructing His people to His holiness and their need for obedience to His commands (Ex. 20:17).

If you've been disobedient, it's time to come out of hiding. God is lovingly calling you and offering His cleansing, forgiveness, and restoration. __Anne Cetas
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``````````````````````O Lord, help me to come to You`````````````
``````````````````````When I would rather hide my sin;```````````
```````````````````````Give me the courage to confess````````````
````````````````````So I can be made clean within. __Sper````````
_____________________________________________________________

Confession is the key
that opens the door to forgiveness.


*************Today's Bible Reading __ Joshua 7:16-22*************

16 So Joshua rose early in
the morning and brought
Israel by their tribes, and
the tribe of Judah was
taken. 17 He brought the
clan of Judah, and he took
the family of the Zarhites;
and he brought the family
of the Zarhites man by
man, and Zabdi was taken.

18 Then he brought his
household man by man, and
Achan the son of Carmi,
the son of Zabdi, the son of
Zerah, of the tribe of Judah,
was taken.

19 Now Joshua said to
Achan, "My son, I beg
you, give glory to the LORD
God of Israel, and make
confession to Him, and tell
me now what you have done;
do not hide it from me."

20 And Achan answered
Joshua and said, "Indeed
I have sinned against the
LORD God of Israel, and
this is what I have done:

21 When I saw among
the spoils a beautiful
Babylonian garment, two
hundred shekels of silver,
and a wedge of gold
weighing fifty shekels,
I coveted them and took
them. And there they are,
hidden in the earth in the
midst of my tent, with the
silver under it."

22 So Joshua sent
messengers, and they ran to
the tent; and there it was,
hidden in his tent, with the
silver under it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Joshua (his name means "Jehovah is salvation") had the challenging
task of taking up the mantle of leadership left behind by Moses. He
had been Moses' assistant (Ex. 24:13) and was prepared as a military
leader (17:9). Joshua was one of the 12 men sent to spy out the land
of promise (Num. 13:16-17). __Bill Crowder