patriarchs and prophets-第128章
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〃Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel。 。 。 。 When I saw among
the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment； and two hundred shekels of silver；
and a wedge of gold of fifty shekel's weight； then I coveted them； and took
them； and； behold； they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent。〃
Messengers were immediately dispatched to the tent； where they removed the
earth at the place specified； and 〃behold； it was hid in his tent； and the
silver under it。 And they took them out of the midst of the tent； and
brought them unto Joshua； 。 。 。 and laid them out before the Lord。〃
Sentence was pronounced and immediately executed。 〃Why hast thou troubled
us？〃 said Joshua； 〃the Lord shall trouble thee this day。〃 As the people had
been held responsible for Achan's sin； and had suffered from its
consequences； they were； through their representatives； to take part in its
punishment。 〃All Israel stoned him with stones。〃
Then there was raised over him a great pile of stonesa witness to the sin
and its punishment。 〃Wherefore the name of that place was called； The valley
of Achor；〃 that is； 〃trouble。〃 In the book of Chronicles his memorial is
written〃Achar； the troubler of Israel。〃 1 Chronicles 2：7。
Achan's sin was committed in defiance of the most direct and solemn warnings
and the most mighty manifestations of God's power。 〃Keep yourselves from the
accursed thing； lest ye make yourselves accursed；〃 had been the proclamation
to all Israel。 The command was given immediately after the miraculous
passage of the Jordan； and the recognition of God's covenant by the
circumcision of the peopleafter the observance of the
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Passover； and the appearance of the Angel of the covenant； the Captain of
the Lord's host。 It had been followed by the overthrow of Jericho； giving
evidence of the destruction which will surely overtake all transgressors of
God's law。 The fact that divine power alone had given the victory to Israel；
that they had not come into possession of Jericho by their own strength；
gave solemn weight to the command prohibiting them from partaking of the
spoils。 God； by the might of His own word； had overthrown this stronghold；
the conquest was His； and to Him alone the city with all that it contained
was to be devoted。
Of the millions of Israel there was but one man who； in that solemn hour of
triumph and of judgment； had dared to transgress the command of God。 Achan's
covetousness was excited by the sight of that costly robe of Shinar； even
when it had brought him face to face with death he called it 〃a goodly
Babylonish garment。〃 One sin had led to another； and he appropriated the
gold and silver devoted to the treasury of the Lordhe robbed God of the
first fruits of the land of Canaan。
The deadly sin that led to Achan's ruin had its root in covetousness； of all
sins one of the most common and the most lightly regarded。 While other
offenses meet with detection and punishment； how rarely does the violation
of the tenth commandment so much as call forth censure。 The enormity of this
sin； and its terrible results； are the lessons of Achan's history。
Covetousness is an evil of gradual development。 Achan had cherished greed of
gain until it became a habit； binding him in fetters well…nigh impossible to
break。 While fostering this evil； he would have been filled with horror at
the thought of bringing disaster upon Israel； but his perceptions were
deadened by sin； and when temptation came； he fell an easy prey。
Are not similar sins still committed； in the face of warnings as solemn and
explicit？ We are as directly forbidden to indulge covetousness as was Achan
to appropriate the spoils of Jericho。 God has declared it to be idolatry。 We
are warned； 〃Ye cannot serve God and mammon。〃 Matthew 6：24。 〃Take heed； and
beware of covetousness。〃 Luke 12：15。 〃Let it not be once named among you。〃
Ephesians 5：3。 We have before us the fearful doom of Achan； of Judas； of
Ananias and Sapphira。 Back of all these we have that of Lucifer； the 〃son of
the morning；〃 who； coveting
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a higher state； forfeited forever the brightness and bliss of heaven。 And
yet； notwithstanding all these warnings； covetousness abounds。
Everywhere its slimy track is seen。 It creates discontent and dissension in
families； it excites envy and hatred in the poor against the rich； it
prompts the grinding oppression of the rich toward the poor。 And this evil
exists not in the world alone； but in the church。 How common even here to
find selfishness； avarice； overreaching； neglect of charities； and robbery
of God 〃in tithes and offerings。〃 Among church members 〃in good and regular
standing〃 there are； alas！ many Achans。 Many a man comes statedly to church；
and sits at the table of the Lord； while among his possessions are hidden
unlawful gains； the things that God has cursed。 For a goodly Babylonish
garment； multitudes sacrifice the approval of conscience and their hope of
heaven。 Multitudes barter their integrity； and their capabilities for
usefulness； for a bag of silver shekels。 The cries of the suffering poor are
unheeded； the gospel light is hindered in its course； the scorn of
worldlings is kindled by practices that give the lie to the Christian
profession； and yet the covetous professor continues to heap up treasures。
〃Will a man rob God？ Yet ye have robbed Me〃 （Malachi 3：8）； saith the Lord。
Achan's sin brought disaster upon the whole nation。 For one man's sin the
displeasure of God will rest upon His church till the transgression is
searched out and put away。 The influence most to be feared by the church is
not that of open opposers； infidels； and blasphemers； but of inconsistent
professors of Christ。 These are the ones that keep back the blessing of the
God of Israel and bring weakness upon His people。
When the church is in difficulty； when coldness and spiritual declension
exist； giving occasion for the enemies of God to triumph； then； instead of
folding their hands and lamenting their unhappy state； let its members
inquire if there is not an Achan in the camp。 With humiliation and searching
of heart； let each seek to discover the hidden sins that shut out God's
presence。
Achan acknowledged his guilt； but when it was too late for the confession to
benefit himself。 He had seen the armies of Israel return from Ai defeated
and disheartened； yet he did not come forward and confess his sin。 He had
seen Joshua and the
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elders of Israel bowed to the earth in grief too great for words。 Had he
then made confession； he would have given some proof of true penitence； but
he still kept silence。 He had listened to the proclamation that a great
crime had been committed； and had even heard its character definitely
stated。 But his lips were sealed。 Then came the solemn investigation。 How
his soul thrilled with terror as he saw his tribe pointed out； then his
family and his household！ But still he uttered no confession； until the
finger of God was placed upon him。 Then； when his sin could no longer be
concealed； he admitted the truth。 How often are similar confessions made。
There is a vast difference between admitting facts after they have been
proved and confessing sins known only to ourselves and to God。 Achan would
not have confessed had he not hoped by so doing to avert the consequences of
his crime。 But his confession only served to show that his punishment was
just。 There was no genuine repentance for sin； no contrition； no change of
purpose； no abhorrence of evil。
So confessions will be made by the guilty when they stand before the bar of
God； after every case has been decided for life or death。 The consequences
to result to himself will draw from each an acknowledgment of his sin。 It
will be forced from the soul by an awful sense of condemnation and a fearful
looking for of judgment。 But such confessions cannot save the sinner。
So long as they can conceal their transgressions from their fellow men；
many； like Achan； feel secure； and flatter themselves that God will not be
strict to mark iniquity。 All too late their sins will find them out in that
day when they shall not
