Search the Scriptures is taking me through Joshua right now. This morning I read chapter 7, which tells how Israel was defeated at Ai because a man called Achan had, against God's instructions, taken plunder from Jericho. One man's sin affected the entire nation. Because of his actions, Achan and his household were stoned to death and their bodies burned.
Now this is one of those Old Testament stories that often makes me think, "wow, pretty harsh punishment for a few little mistakes." But the study questions asked me to read these two passages
But he was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
...and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
The combination of all these passages of Scripture really brought home the meaning of Romans 6:23--"For the wages of sin is death." Someone always dies for sin. Our holy God can't overlook sin. Achan died for his own sin. But we don't have to because Christ died instead. Wow.
Zach pointed out that people often accuse God of being inconsistent, a harsh punisher in the Old Testament and a God of love in the New Testament. But instead these passages show that God's standards have not changed: sin deserves death. And just like Achan, there are many today who will die for their own sin because they would not come to God on His terms.
1 comment:
Thanks for the post! This is great stuff...I often use this passage when disciplining Izaak. We talk about how Achan's lies were found out and that ALL lies are found out, but we have a Savior to help us to fight against the sin in our hearts and take the deathly consequences of our sin when we do commit it.
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