COV LIFE BLOG

Joshua 7 – The Danger of Hidden Sin

The Israelite army, led by Joshua, had conquered the stronghold of Jericho, but before they had even left the premises Achan spied some forbidden objects – an expensive Babylonish garment, some silver, and some gold. Those items, referred to as “accursed,” were absolutely off-limits. God had expressly commanded that Joshua and his soldiers were not to take them.
 
But in spite of what God had said, Achan continued to gaze longingly at those forbidden objects. He coveted them – and the word “covet” means “to desire that which is unlawful.” Then, his resistance having broken down, his unholy desire erupted into sinful action, and he stole the garment, the silver, and the gold. To make matters even worse, then, he hid those stolen items, hoping to get by with his crime.
 
Of course God knew about it all the time, just as he knows about your sins and mine. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Hebrews 4:13 says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
 
Not only does God know about our secret sins, but sooner or later, one way or the other, those sins will cease to be secret – they will be disclosed. Obviously God doesn’t always take those extreme measures in dealing with our sins. But you can be certain that sin always brings destruction of one kind or another. Sometimes it destroy homes, or health. It often destroys relationships. And it most certainly will destroy one’s happiness, sense of self-worth, and influence.
 
At some point – perhaps in this life, but for certain in eternity – our sins will catch up with us. Proverbs 11:3 says, “…the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.” Galatians 6:7 warns, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
 
Secret sin, as well as open sin, is perilous. In the case of Achan and the Israelite army, it brought defeat, despair, disclosure, and destruction – and if you and I allow secret sin to remain in our lives, we will also experience disastrous consequences.

The late Dr. George Truett told about a family that he knew in his boyhood days. That family went through a terrible siege of malaria. One family member would seem to be getting well, then another would go down. The nausea, the weakness, the awful aching went on for months. Finally the old family doctor said, “There is some local cause. Let’s see what there is about this house that has caused all this trouble.” They went over the entire premises, and finally found that in the cellar under the house there was a pool of filthy, stagnant water that apparently had been standing for a long time. The old doctor said, “Let this cellar be completely cleaned out, be utterly renovated or this sickness will persist with increasing severity.” They did as the old doctor insisted, and eventually the scourge was ended, and they all recovered.
 
When the hidden sin was rooted out from amidst the army of Israel, they again prospered. When you and I root out the hidden sins in our lives, confess them, and through Christ ask for forgiveness, God can then bless us and give us victory.

Paul E. Brown

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SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SUNDAY
Read Joshua 7 and consider what sin you might be hiding in your life? Even though the consequences may not be so immediate and dramatic, do you recognize how dangerous it is to keep sin hidden away? Is there someone you can confess this sin to today?

SONG FOR THIS WEEK
Not In Me by Sovereign Grace