Show Me The Hidden Faults

Synopsis     Joshua 6:21-7:3     4/18/2018

The warriors destroyed every living thing at Jericho except for Rahab and her family. She, and her family, were placed outside the camp of Israel.

The Israelites then burned the city of Jericho saving only the items of gold, silver and bronze for the treasury. Joshua then imposed a curse upon anyone who attempted to re-establish the city. However, secretly, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah had violated the ban by stealing goods against the order.

Joshua sent spies to reconnoiter Ai, the next city to be targeted. They reported than only a small force would be required to overcome the small city.

Resident Imperfection

Jericho was an unmitigated success – a total victory. The Israelites rejoiced in the fall of the city. They celebrated. It seemed that everything was right and good.

Yet in the midst of this overwhelming success, there was corruption. It’s strange. Only a few weeks before, the Israelites had miraculously crossed the Jordan on dry ground. They had just celebrated the first Passover – ever. They had just renewed the covenant through circumcision. And yet, at the first opportunity to steal booty, the impure motive shows up.

Show Me the Hidden Faults

I talk like I would have done differently than Achan. And I’d really like to believe that I would. More generally, I’d like to believe that I’m above temptation. But I’m old enough to know how weak I can be – and how impure my motives are.

It’s the mixture of the impurity that’s so strange. It’s not that I’m not interested in God. It’s not a sham faith. This way of givenness hasn’t been without cost. Yet a part of me remains unfree. My motives remain suspect and tainted. The good news is that this is normal.

The revealing starts the healing.

I can work with that which I see. It’s when my motives remain hidden even from myself that, like a blind man, I stumble in darkness unknowing. So blessed is the person who is allowed to see his own faults.

“Probe me, God, know my heart; try me, know my thoughts. See if there is a wicked path in me; lead me along an ancient path” Psalms 139:23