“So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. 13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.”” Joshua 7:10-13 NKJV
Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.” Joshua 7:19-21 NKJV
Father and Judge ,
Who can stand before You, You know everything. For the Israelites I wonder at Achan. He didn’t murder or make anyone suffer from taking these things. He did not seem to benefit because he had to hide them and could not enjoy them. Or did he think he could later on, if no one noticed?
Confession is good for the soul, is an old scottish saying I believe. One which councillors today would agree with. Perhaps it came from the Bible James 5:16, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” Lord my God You know me and my weaknesses and failures, past and present. And I cannot thank you enough for wiping my slate clean of sin, washing me whiter than snow, cleansing my heart and renewing my mind. Seeing me as not guilty because Jesus paid the price for my sin. I could go on thinking of all the ways we try to speak out salvation and the forgiveness of sin. So I will end with one from Your Word that I love.
Jesus said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48) And if there was, is ever any Achan in me, stubborn, covetous or rebellious help me confess and lay it at the cross.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 8th March 2026
We had this several times last year – it is always at the top of my playlist. Simple, full of worship and gratitude from the heart.
Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve,
pays me what Christ has earned then lets me go free.
Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change,
washes away the stains that once covered me.
And all that I have I lay at the feet
of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.
Wonderful love that held in the face of death,
breathed in its final breath forgiveness for me.
Wonderful love whose power can break every chain
giving us life again setting us free.
And all that I have I lay at the feet
of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.
Lyrics: John Pantry