THE ACCURSED THING

Joshua 7:11-12

“Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you”.

Are you a Christian whose world seems to be falling apart? Does everything seem to be going downhill in your life rather than uphill? Are troublesome things happening to you which you wouldn't expect God to allow to happen? Has your life suddenly taken a turn for the worse? Well, it's not the first time something like this has happened to God's children. The same thing happened to the Children of Israel just after their victory over Jericho. It was a serious problem which needed to be dealt with in a serious manner. Come to think of it, Samson’s predicament was the case of lure or better still lust whereas the case I would describe now can be liken to greed. Please use your seat beat as we proceed…

 
It all started in Joshua chapter six. You can read it for yourself at your leisure. Joshua had just led the Children of Israel across the Jordan River, into the Promised Land. God had promised that all of the inhabitants of this land would fear Joshua and his followers. So they had confidence as they marched round the walls of Jericho. But God also told Joshua to warn the people about taking any spoils from the victory over that city.

Joshua 6:18-19: “And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD”.

The only thing they were to keep where the precious metals. And that was to be placed in the treasury of the Lord.   

Joshua 7:1: “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel”.

A man by the name Achan couldn't resist some of the things he saw as they captured the city. He saw a Babylonian garment of some kind, some silver, and some gold. And he just couldn't resist disobeying God and keeping just a little for himself. He probably thought nobody would notice. There was so much to gather up. After all, God was on his side. He had destroyed these people of Jericho on Achan's behalf. God had taken care of him and his family over the past forty years. He was one of God's children. What was there to worry about?

Just a few things:
1. He was disobeying God's command

2. He was stealing from God

3. He was listening to the lust of his flesh rather than his conscience

I'm sure you can come up with a longer list, but that's good enough for now.
God called the things he took for himself accursed. Achan took them back to his tent and dug a little hole in the ground and buried them. Now, stop for a minute and think: Let's say the garment was a nice leather jacket. When is he ever going to be able to wear it if he has to keep it hidden? What was he thinking? He wasn't thinking! He was lusting! Here is a picture-perfect example of GREED. He can't use it. He doesn't need it. But - he WANTS it!

He was like so many people who are so self-centred (selfish) that they spend their time looking for ways to please themselves. And after these folks have gathered all of life's pleasures to themselves, they discover that none of it really brings happiness. Just like a leather jacket buried in the dirt.

So, what's the big deal? Well, reading on through chapter seven of Joshua we find the result of Achan's sin. There was a little town called Ai. It was the next city to conquer after Jericho. And, it was www.facebook.com/oogunbiyiwww.facebook.comJoshua's job to send a group out to conquer it in the same manner they had conquered Jericho. So he sent out a spy party to determine their strategy. The spies came back with the news that Ai was just a small community and they wouldn't need to send many soldiers to win the battle.

So Joshua sent three thousand men out to take the city. But as they approached Ai the men of Ai attacked the Israelite soldiers and overtook them. In the process, 36 Israelite soldiers were killed and the battle turned against them. The Bible says that the Israelite soldiers were so frightened that their hearts turned to water and they fled back to their camp. This was NOT how it was supposed to go.

Joshua could not understand so he went to God and prayed. Up to this point all of the inhabitants of the Promised Land were living in fear of the Israelites. But with the small army of Ai defeating the Israelite army, Joshua knew that word would get out and that their enemies would be much more confident and bold enough to fight a fierce battle.

But God spoke to Joshua and explained that someone in the camp had taken the accursed thing. And until it was found and destroyed they were on their own:

Joshua 7:12 “. . .neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you”.

Take note of the word, DESTROY. You and I are not much different than Achan. There are many things in this world that we would love to own. Some of them are approved by God and some are not. Also, remember this: God does not change. He feels the same today as He did back in Achan's day. He loves each of us just as much as He loved folks back then. He also hates greed and lust just as much as He did back then. Keep that in mind as we continue the story of Achan.

While God was speaking with Joshua He explained that as long as the Israelites possessed the accursed thing they would NOT be able to stand against their enemies. Hold that tight for the next few moments also.

God told Joshua to find the person who had taken the accursed thing, get it back from him, and destroy it. So the next morning Joshua began questioning the people, “man by man.” He went to great lengths to search for the trouble-maker. He left nothing to doubt because it was important to their survival in the Promised Land to find whatever it was that had ruined their relationship with God. The problem was found when he finally questioned Achan.

Joshua 7:19-21: “And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it”.

Do you know what happened next? Achan and his sons and daughters and all of his possessions were destroyed along with the accursed thing.

Joshua 7:25-26: “And Joshua said, why hast thou troubled us? The LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones . . . .”

Now, picture Achan huddled together with his family in the middle of the circle of those who were about to begin the stoning. Watch as he tries in vain to protect his children from those first few stones. Listen as he hears his children begin to cry and whimper over the next few minutes as they gradually fall unconscious and bleed to death. You can only imagine the pain in his heart. It must have been much worse than the pain of those stones hitting his body.

Was it worth it? Well, you can ask Achan yourself when you get to Heaven.

In the mean time let me ask you: Is there something in your life that you KNOW God considers being an accursed thing?
Whatever it is that just came to mind needs to be destroyed. Just like the Israelites, we have no defence against our enemies as long as we try to hang on to it. And, just like Achan, you and I need to remember that sin eventually leads to death.

James 1:14-15: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”.

Don't be like Achan and fool yourself into thinking that you have it hidden away where nobody will ever find out about it. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you can just keep it hidden and it doesn't need to be destroyed. Remember; as long as it remains you have NO defence against your enemies.

And, who are your enemies? Right off-hand I can name three: The World, The Flesh (Self), and The Devil. As I said at the beginning, if your life seems to be out of control, compared to how things were after you first entered the Promised Land, maybe you should think about it. You have absolutely NO defence against those three enemies without the protection of God, His son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

You need to be as diligent as Joshua was. Search your soul in the same way that Joshua questioned his men, one-by-one, until you are sure you have uncovered every accursed thing in your life. Then destroy it - before it destroys you.

The key word is DESTROY!
You know what to do. The rest is up to you.

Who Is Accursed?

According to Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary, to be accursed is to be “ruined or doomed to utter destruction.” Other lexicons would translate accursed as “damned or condemned.” The importance of having a good understanding of this word is seen in that, within the pages of the Bible, we read of certain persons that are accursed. It is sad that there are some who choose to place themselves in such a predicament before their Creator. Nevertheless, many people, as they give in to the Adversary, choose to become accursed by God. Let us carefully examine who it is that is accursed by God, apart from the case of Samson we have been studying so far, so that we might be careful to avoid this tragic condition.

1) Those who do not love the Lord are accursed. The Apostle Paul emphatically declared in 1 Corinthians 16:22, “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.” Therefore, if we do not love the Lord with all our “heart, soul, mind and strength” - that is, with our very being - then we will stand accursed (Mk. 12:30).

But how can we demonstrate that we truly love the Lord of lords and King of kings? Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (Jn. 14:21). Clearly, we can demonstrate that we love the Lord by keeping the commandments that He has delivered. If we do this then He will love and accept us. But if we do not, then he will despise and rejects us, and we will ultimately be doomed to utter destruction.

2) Those who preach another gospel are accursed. The same apostle exclaimed, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9). Apparently, the offense of proclaiming another gospel was so severe, that the consequences for doing such needed to be stressed twice. An anathema is placed upon the false teachers who lead people astray. Peter likewise affirms that they are “accursed children” (2 Pet. 2:14).

Having said that, let’s not overlook that those who preach the pure gospel of Christ are blessed. In Romans 10:15 we read, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” The very feet of gospel preachers are called "beautiful” for the sake of the message they bear! Therefore, for us to receive the approval and praise of God, we must preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

3) Those who violates God’s law are accursed. Remember Achan? Joshua, through the word of the Lord, had instructed Achan and all Israel: “And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it” (Josh. 6:18). All Israel was admonished to abstain and refrain from the things which the Lord considered abhorrent. However, Achan did not do this. Instead, he took of the accursed things, became accursed, and as a result of his transgression, was condemned to death. Certainly, those who disobey God’s law are accursed.

But with that in mind, it should also be noted that those who obey His law are accepted by Him. Consider the reason why God blessed Abraham so abundantly. God blessed Abraham “because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (Gen. 26:5). That’s why great riches were bestowed on the Patriarch of old. Abraham obeyed! Also, the Lord God told Israel, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine” (Exod. 19:5). Do we want to be the special people of the Lord? Then let’s be careful to observe and obey His every decree. Remember, it is Christ who has become “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9).

4) Those who fellowship the accursed are accursed. There is something else that we can learn from the narrative about Achan. Not only did Achan become accursed by his transgression, but his transgression also caused the entire camp of Israel to become accursed. Notice that the text said, “...so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel” (Josh. 7:1). And, Jehovah proclaimed, “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them” (Josh. 7:11). Indeed, a little leaven leavens the whole lump (1 Cor. 5:6).

Consequently, if those who have not taken of the accursed things intend to remain in God’s fellowship and favour, they must put away from themselves the evil person. “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2 Cor. 6:17)

Conclusively, since the vast majority of people in this world do not love the Lord, preach another gospel, violate God’s law, or approve of those who do so, it is really no wonder that Jesus revealed the way of life to be narrow. It is sad when we think of all the many souls around us that will be lost. But, as we entertain that unhappy thought, let us not forget that an “accursed” people can be transformed into an “accepted” people! How so? Through their obedience to the gospel. Paul announced in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes...”

Our awareness of who it is that is accursed should not only help keep us from falling from our own steadfastness, but it should also help to motivate our evangelistic efforts.

“Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men ...” (2 Cor. 5:11).

“Him (Christ) we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Col. 1:28-29).

Base on the discussion above, can we describe Samson as being accursed – despite his Nazarian consecration? And Delilah as the accursed thing? Imagine, the pleasure of 5mins will ruin a life ministry. Just a little pleasure, interest, or lust in the accursed thing (that lap), will lead you to be stoned to life destruction and damnation in the burning furnace fire. It occurs to me that many a ‘minister’ are getting it wrong in so many ways and they need to be seriously corrected and warned about the wrath of God when they indulged in the accursed thing.

Let’s all do what we can to make those who are living “accursed” before their Creator, “accepted” in Christ Jesus!

The WARNING SIGN: come back to your first love because there are still more land to cover.