DCLM Higher Everyday 22 February 2025 — Achan’s Atrocity
DCLM Higher Everyday 22 February 2025 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Achan’s Atrocity
Topic: Achan’s Atrocity
Text: Joshua 7:16-26
16So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
18And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
19And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
20And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
21When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
23And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.
24And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
25And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
26And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
Key Verse: “Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you” (Joshua 7:12).
Message
Achan, an Israelite of the tribe of Judah lived to his name, troubler. The correlation between his name and his disgraceful action should be a lesson to all Christian parents in choosing names for their children. A Yoruba adage asserts that names affect behaviour, hence King Solomon counsels that “a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 21 February 2025 – Herod’s Humiliation
The text for today’s devotion presents the trembling judgement of Achan by the God of Israel for stealing accursed things in Jericho. Israel had defeated the bigger and mightier city of Jericho only to be shamefully defeated by a smaller city of Ai. The discouraged Joshua was told by God the reason for their defeat. There was sin in their camp. Achan had stolen of the forbidden things. His sins included covetousness, lying, stealing and disobedience while his family covered his ignoble sins. He had opportunity to confess but concealed his evil. His sins caused setback and loss of lives for Israel. Are you living in secret sin like Achan? Repent before it is too late. No sinner will go unpunished.
Quote: His sins caused setback.
Challenge: Are you living in secret sin like Achan?
Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, keep me from sin, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
