“Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.”
Context: In this passage, Joshua, the leader of Israel after the death of Moses, is addressing the people of Israel after their defeat in the battle of Ai. The Israelites were defeated because of the sin of Achan, who had taken some of the devoted things from Jericho against God’s command.
Sanctification: The first instruction given by Joshua is to sanctify the people. Sanctification means to set apart or consecrate oneself to God and to live according to His commands. Joshua wanted the people to purify themselves morally and spiritually, as they were about to deal with a serious matter.
Identification of sin: Joshua reveals that there is an “accursed thing” in their midst. This refers to the stolen items that Achan had taken from Jericho. God had specifically commanded that everything in Jericho was to be devoted to Him, and Achan’s disobedience had brought sin and its consequences upon the whole nation.
Consequences of sin: Joshua states that the presence of this accursed thing has caused the Israelites to be unable to stand before their enemies. Sin hinders God’s favor and protection. The defeat at Ai was a clear demonstration of this principle. Sin not only affects the individual but can also have consequences for the entire community.
Removal of sin: Joshua emphasizes that the accursed thing must be taken away from among them. The Israelites needed to repent, confess their sins, and remove the stolen items from their midst. God required them to deal with the sin before they could experience victory in battle.
Application: This passage highlights the importance of dealing with sin in our lives. Just as the Israelites had to remove the accursed thing from among them, we need to identify and confess our sins before God, seeking His forgiveness and cleansing. Sin can hinder our spiritual growth, our relationship with God, and our effectiveness in serving Him.
God’s mercy and restoration: Although there were consequences for Achan’s sin, God showed His mercy by providing a way for the Israelites to recover and experience victory again. After dealing with the sin, the Israelites were able to defeat Ai in a subsequent battle.
Overall, Joshua 7:13 reminds us of the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance and obedience to God’s commands. It teaches us that sin can have a detrimental impact on our lives and that dealing with sin is necessary for experiencing God’s favor and victory in our spiritual journey.
