We hit up part 3 of our STUFFed series yesterday dealing with the issue of selfishness. This series has been about thankfulness and selfishness can be the enemy of a thankful attitude!After Joshua had led the camp of Israelites into the Promised Land, the first city that they came to was a place called Jericho. Jericho was a large fortified city, which meant it had huge walls built around it to keep invaders out!
Well Joshua had specific instructions on how to take over the city, and as he followed through with those instructions, the walls came tumbling down and the Israelites quickly seized the city.
That wasn’t all! God wanted the Israelites to stay focused on the one who was providing the land… Him! So he gave them one more thing to do! He had Joshua tell the Israelites, “The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord.” No big deal, right?
The conquest of Jericho went as planned, but someone didn’t follow through with all the instructions that God had given!
The next city that the Israelites had planned to take over was a small city called Ai (pronounced just as it is spelled… A-i.) Joshua had a few men go spy out the city and they came back with a positive report. They told Joshua that he would not have to send many men, because the city was so small.
Hearing this, Joshua sent about 3,000 men up to capture the city of Ai. When they got there they were routed by the men of Ai and they had to retreat, but the men of Ai defeated the men of Israel.
This upset Joshua, so he tore his clothes and he cried out to God, “… why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan River to deliver us into the hands of the enemy so they could destroy us?” After Joshua prayed some more God let him in on a little secret!
God told Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I have commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies…”
After this God told Joshua to get the whole camp of Israelites ready for a meeting the next day, where God would show him who committed the sin. The whole camp came together and family by family God showed Joshua who had committed the sin…but it was only one man, named Achan!
The selfishness of one man had a negative effect on so many others besides himself. Achan probably didn’t realize it at the time, but he took his eyes off of what God had commanded the Israelites to do. When he let his selfishness get the best of him, it cost others their lives!
Selfishness… the opposite of thankfulness can lead you down the wrong path quicker than you think!
Memeory Verse: "Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Q's for the Family:
1. Have you ever displayed the same kind of attitude that Achan did? Maybe you didn’t steal anything, or people weren’t killed, but when was a time that you were selfish in your decisions? What were the negative consequences?
2. I don’t know about you guys but I want God to bless my life! What are some practical steps that we can take towards having a more thankful attitude? Practice having a thankful attitude, pray and ask God to help you to have a more thankful atiitude, pray and thank God for the things that he has already blessed you with!
That's all I've got for you this week, but tune in next week for part 4! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
