Sin In The Camp

SIN IN THE CAMP

“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.” - Joshua 7:1

Do you believe it is possible for revival to be withheld because of one man's sin? Do you believe that a mighty move of God can be withheld because of someone's disobedience? I think most of us would agree that if the pastor or leader has sinned, it may impact what God chooses to do in a church, but what about a lay member? What about you? Do you think God may withhold a great blessing from your church because of your sin?

This was the case for Israel. They enjoyed a mighty victory at Jericho. The walls came down and the foe was defeated, just as God had promised. Yet when they came to the city of Ai, disaster struck. The Israelites were humiliated and defeated by a less fortified city than Jericho.

As I ponder the Ai defeat, I notice a few things. First of all, the Israelites were presumptuous. They looked at the city of Ai as being inferior to Jericho, so they thought that victory was no big deal. We tend to make the same mistake ourselves at times. We look at a situation and think it is a minor obstacle, then set out to overcome it in our flesh.

Secondly, they didn't seek God before attacking Ai. They got their marching orders from the Lord when it came to Jericho, but at Ai, they felt that they didn't need to consult God about that. I've done that before, haven't you? Every time I've dealt with a situation without consulting God, it has ended up a disaster.

In spite of these leadership failures, the main problem that brought defeat at Ai was that someone had sinned greatly against God. When Israel defeated Jericho, they were told not to take any spoil from the city. It turns out that someone disobeyed God. His name was Achan.

No one, apart from Achan (and maybe his family), knew of his sin. So when Israel attacked Ai, they were soundly defeated. God was not going to bless sin. He still doesn't today. There was sin in the camp. Until the sin was removed, God was not going bless Israel.

Here are three things we need to know about Achan's sin.

1. IT WAS A SELFISH SIN

First of all, it was a selfish sin. Although he was commanded not to take a spoil from Jericho, Achan looked and saw items that he wanted badly. Thinking that no one was watching, he took them and hid them. He looked and lusted. He selfishly sought things that were forbidden. Sounds like many in America today, doesn't it? Sin, at its core, is man's selfish attempt to get what he wants, even if it is wrong. Achan's sin was a selfish sin.

2. IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT SIN

Secondly, it was a significant sin. Ultimately, Achan's sin cost him his life. Some may argue that the penalty was too great, but we need to consider the truth about sin. First of all, Achan disobeyed God. These days, obedience is considered an option. However, when we disobey God, it is a serious matter. It is a felony. It is an act of rebellion and treason against our King. Secondly, Achan's sin brought dishonor to Israel, and more importantly, to God. The pagans had feared God after the Jericho conquest, but the Ai battle gave the unbelievers reason to blaspheme and dishonor the Lord. Next, Achan's sin cost several soldiers their lives. Several soldiers never returned home to their families because of this one man's sin. It was a significant sin.

3. IT WAS A SECRET SIN

Finally, Achan's sin was a secret sin. The Israelites were completely unaware of Achan's transgression. What he did in secret brought serious consequences to others and himself. There was sin in the camp and most didn't know it. Like Achan, many in the church are involved in secret sin. Like the psalmist, we should pray, “Cleanse thou me of secret faults.”

Last week, I wrote about termites in the temple. Ongoing sin, like termites, eats away the health of a church. Like cancer, sin is a silent killer. God will not bless if there is sin in the camp. Most people, like Achan, try to hide their sin from others. As Bailey Smith once said, “What we cover, God uncovers.”

The Bible says, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God.” Like Achan, if we refuse to repent, God will render His judgment against us. Sin is likened unto leaven (yeast) in the Bible. The Bible says, “A little leaven leaveneth the who lump.” In other words, left alone, sin will soon consume everything. That's why the Bible says, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.” We must get rid of the sin in the camp. It begins with you and me, recognizing our sins and truly repenting. As John Owen once said, “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.”

Perhaps we're not seeing revival today because there is sin in the camp.