Rebellion & Recovery
Greed
By G. Neil Armstrong
This study is inspired by the Rebellion & Recovery D.O.C.s weekly series for DOC (Department of Corrections), specifically LCDC (Laurel County Detention Center) on 10/11/2009 by TrueGrace01 for G. Neil Armstrong.
This is section 3: Greed
Questions 14, 15, 16, & 17
Achan became lustful of the treasure in Ai. Maybe he thought that nobody would notice. Maybe, after all that the Israelites had been through, seen, and experienced in the presence of the Almighty God – Jehovah, he still did not esteem Him as All Knowing.
Achan lacked a reverent awe, or fear of God. He did not simply deny the severity of his own crime, but he also doubted the severity of the consequence and the wrath of God.
What must have Achan been thinking? Surely after the manner of searching (7:14) he’d have known that his sin would be found out. Truly already and without any tangible evidence, God has already revealed the accursed thing. Even then, in God’s anger He had mercy enough to give more than enough opportunity for Achan to step up.
Others were with him and they did not tell on him. Achan may have still thought that it would be overlooked. In his lust, he held out until he was addressed directly. In verse 19, Joshua did not with Achan as he had done with the others of Judah. The Zarhites, and Zabdi, and Zerah, then Achan... the opportunity was made available to step up voluntarily. He waited until he was called by name. Joshua must have already known that Achan did The Accursed Thing. In verse 19, Joshua openly told Achan to confess.
After the manner of process and hours of opportunity for Achan to come forward of his own will, finally Joshua was face-to-face with Achan. Now is the moment of truth. Achan could not deny it. Verse 20-21 shows that Achan confessed, in detail that which he had done - The Accursed Thing.
Anyone whose desire is to be rich falls into that temptation – it is a snare. It is not necessary to possess an “increase of goods”: 4:46 (Greek: ploo-teh’-o). The desire for this increase is evidence of lust, and is subject to manifest in many hurtful ways. The desire for an increase of goods may also reflect a lack of faith in God to provide for at the moment of need. Without such faith, it is impossible to please God.
To even hope for, or to any degree, to expect more than is necessary for the time will inevitably result in disappointment and sorrow. A person may even expect so fervently in the “hoped for” increase that he may sacrifice some or all that he has in expectation of such an increase. This is certain to beget much suffering.
It is my hope to trust so completely in God that if I think I need something for any reason, I may patiently wait, earnestly seek, and fervently work for Gods provision in such. He will not hold any good thing from me.
How many of us have The Accursed Thing looming over us, just waiting for God to single us out? He said in His Word that our sins will find us out. Surely it was the case for Achan. Equally sure, it happens to us so often that we are no longer sensitive enough to recognize God’s gentle tug, saying, “now Neil, what good can come of this? What motive do you have to desire such and such? What is the nature of this motive? Will it bring Glory to my Name?”
Paul said that all things are lawful for him, but not all things are expedient. In and of itself, a thing is not opposing to God’s Glory until we taint it with our “less than Godly” desires. We perverse the provision of God just as this Great People had done with the Manna, and the water. They simply desire ungodly things, just like we do today. We do not have to give into this desire, to obtain it. It is sin to us if we even entertain the thought of obtaining an ungodly or The Accursed Thing. This and other guidelines, when applied correctly, are not a hindrance to our Solid Onward Walk, they are a compliment to it. They aid in our hope of success.
Saturday, October 31, 2009 9:00 pm
