How does Joshua 6:18 warn against taking "devoted things" for personal gain? Scripture Focus: Joshua 6:18 “But keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest you become devoted to destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring disaster upon it.” Key Observations • “Devoted” (Hebrew ḥērem) refers to items set apart exclusively for the Lord—either for complete destruction or for use in His sanctuary. • The command is personal (“keep yourselves”) and communal (“make the camp … liable”). One person’s disobedience endangers everyone. • The warning ties taking to becoming: if you grasp what belongs to God, you share its fate—destruction. Why These Items Were “Devoted” • They symbolized God’s victory over a wicked city (Deuteronomy 7:25–26). • They protected Israel from idolatry; polluted objects would corrupt hearts. • They acknowledged God’s first-fruits rights: Jericho was the first conquest in Canaan, so its spoils belonged wholly to Him (cf. Exodus 23:19). What the Warning Teaches About Personal Gain • Stealing from God is self-destructive; earthly profit invites divine judgment (Malachi 3:8–9). • Personal impulses must yield to God’s explicit commands, even when valuables lie within reach (1 Timothy 6:10). • Obedience is an act of worship; disobedience reveals misplaced allegiance (Matthew 6:24). Consequences Demonstrated in Achan’s Story (Joshua 7) • Private sin became public defeat—thirty-six soldiers died, and Israel’s advance stalled. • Achan’s family, possessions, and life were lost; sin’s cost exceeded what he gained. • Only after judgment did God’s presence and blessing return to the nation (Joshua 7:26). Relevant Cross-References • Leviticus 27:28 – anything “devoted to the LORD” is “most holy” and not to be reclaimed. • Proverbs 15:27 – “He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his household.” • Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira repeat Achan’s pattern in the early church. • Romans 6:23 – the wages of sin is death; God’s moral order still stands. Practical Takeaways for Today • Treat what God labels as His—time, tithe, talents—with reverent care. • Reject the lie that hidden compromise harms no one; unseen sins ripple outward. • Value communal holiness; our obedience strengthens, and our sin weakens, the whole body. • Pursue contentment in God, not in possessions He has withheld (Hebrews 13:5). |
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