Joshua 7:5-26

       What a paradox.  Rahab believed God, but Achan did not.  Rahab was a foreigner.  She had undoubtedly worshiped idol gods all her life.  Yet when she heard about the power of God, she did not just react with fear like everyone else in Jericho.  She turned away from everything she had ever known and embraced her new-found faith in the One True God.  She risked everything to do so, but she knew that God was the Lord of all, and her only hope was in Him.

       Before the city of Jericho was destroyed, God specifically commanded the Israelites not to take any of the accursed possessions of the people of Jericho.  Only Rahab and her family were to be spared.  Everything and everyone else was to be destroyed.  God warned the Israelites they would be accursed if they took any of the accursed things.  Yet Achan, a man who had witnessed the power of God first-hand, apparently did not believe that God would know he had taken and hidden some of the plunder.

       How can it be that Rahab believed God and was saved, and Achan, who had so much more opportunity to know God, did not believe and was cursed and killed.  He saw the wealth of Jericho and coveted it.  He was tempted by his own lust and gave in to that temptation.  Though one of God's chosen people, he worshiped wealth and possessions more than God.

       The power of God is all around me.  I know God loves me, but I also know God is a judge and will punish His children that deliberately disobey Him.  If I sin now, willingly, knowing the truth, I can expect to be punished.  The world is full of temptation.  It is easy to think God won't really care if I sin just a little bit.  But He does care.  His Word says He cares.  If I believe, I will also take care to obey.