Joshua 7:16-18 - Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
The scene is post Ai Battle #1. Israel lost to a puny little burg where only a few men lived. The reason they lost was that the LORD was not on their side because Achan had stolen some of the treasures he found in the sacking of Jericho -- treasures that God had said should be completely destroyed.
Obviously Achan thought he would get away with it, but I wonder why he didn't confess sooner, especially after God let it be known that someone had stolen goods from Jericho. Did he think that someone else was the real culprit and that what he took didn't really count?
I wonder how each group was "taken." Did they draw straws? throw dice? pull colored stones from a bag? use the Urim and Thummim?
Again, I wonder, as it was being narrowed down to Achan, why he didn't step forward sooner. Did he think to the very end that someone else from his family would be taken instead?
I believe it was through the Urim and Thummim. This was God's way to make sure they knew it was not by chance. Achan was a rebel and I assume he thought he could outlast a 'roll of the dice,' so to speak. He got caught by God. This relates to what Jesus said, "Fall on the rock, so the rock won't have to fall on you." If we judge ourselves, then God will not have to do that for us. He can then forgive and work in our lives. Achan did not fall on the rock. And it cost him his life and that of his family.
ReplyDeleteBill, you may be right about the Urim and Thummim.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where you find Jesus saying anything about falling on the rock though. Are you paraphrasing something?