Joshua 7 “Concealed”

Joshua 7 – Brandon Hatmaker “Concealed”
Friday, August 1st, 2008

“I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.” – Joshua 7:12

In the prior chapters, I found it surprising that God’s hand continued to be with the Israelites although they had not been circumcised. Maybe it was because they were obviously willing and eventually did it. Maybe it had something to do with the law verses the heart.

But in chapter 7, we see that God reaches a point in which his anger burns because of blatant disobedience and sin. We also see that because of the sin of one, the entire camp would suffer, and we see the consequence of God removing His hand.

The sin was personal, and as Achan eventually confessed, it was a “concealed” sin. In verse 21 he said, “They are hidden in the ground inside my tent”.

I have a pastor friend who recently prayed over this scripture for his church. He felt that something was happening in which God was not going before them and the Spirit was not leading. He eventually came to the place in which he was wondering if there was an “Achan” in his camp. As he prayed into that question, he found out that he was the Achan.

His sin wasn’t a blatant sin or moral failure, but it was real. It was a “hidden” sin that he did not even see. However, when the Spirit brought it to light, it was obvious. He realized that the pattern of “concealment” was rampant in his life. He confessed to his church that he had placed the church in front of his family for years, he confessed that although he always acted like he had everything together, that he was not being honest and had hidden insecurities and issues, in his own life he began to admit shortfalls in how he led staff with the wrong motives, he even admitted that he enjoyed a glass of wine every now and then (doctors orders after a heart attack) yet if a church member was to come over, he would hide it. Not all of these were a part of the public confession, but non-the-less they were confessed before God and shared with the appropriate audience.

He said it was the most freeing moment he’s experienced… I think he said, ever. I’m sure there are moments in which we should confess our sins publicly. There are moments we should confess our sins to one another (James 5:16). And in every moment we should be open and honest in confession with our God… Verse 23 said that, “They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD.”

I’m reminded the importance of “spreading” things out before the Lord. It’s not as if these things are hidden from God, it’s only in our minds. Since it is often about “how” we do things on our journey, even in confession, I wonder if the calling to lay things out before the Lord is for us. Yet there is so much concealed in our lives, emotionally, relationally, spiritually, and physically.

As pastors, as leaders, and as followers of faith we have the opportunity to be a part of something amazing… the Kingdom of Heaven. More than anything I hope my personal pursuits of faith are through God’s leading not my own ability or wisdom. Although God’s divine plan will be realized, we are reminded in Chapter 7, there are things that can happen in which God will choose to remove his hand from us personally. For Joshua and Achan, disobedience followed by concealment was one of them.

So while yesterday (chapter 6) I wrote about “fear”, today I feel it. I believe it to be a healthy, reverent, appropriate fear of God. I’m searching a bit deeper today. I’m begging more earnestly for forgiveness today. I’m asking God to go before us today more than yesterday. I pray for the wisdom and will to do the same tomorrow and the next day.