HIDDEN SIN; PUBLIC CONSEQUENCES
NOVEMBER 10, 2024
TEXT: But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. (JOSHUA 7:1)
Hidden sin simply means secret acts, thoughts, and behaviors that are totally against the will of God. In our given text, we see the unfortunate story of a man who was a victim of hidden sins and their eventual repercussions in his life. This man, Achan, secretly stole and kept for himself accursed objects from their battle against Jericho, despite God’s stern warnings that they should not mingle with the spoils from battles with other nations. Unfortunately, greed got the better of him. This sin eventually boomeranged on Achan and even some of the Israelites.
Let’s take a look at some of the effects of Achan’s actions:
✅ Military Disgrace: Just because of one man’s sin, God turned against them during the battle against Ai, as the men of Ai instantly killed 36 Israelite men. (Joshua 7:4-5)
✅ National Humiliation: God has a reputation of always lending His hand to His people during battle. However, Achan’s attitude displeased God, and He angrily turned against them.
✅ Loss of Life: Achan’s act also led to his untimely death (Joshua 7:24-26). He and his family were instantly put to death when his iniquity was known.
Secret sins are indeed very destructive in nature. They can have dire consequences that we may not even anticipate at times. Achan was not even aware of such consequences. He thought he had already escaped with the things he stole. He never knew that God would still visit his iniquity.
To guard against secret sin, it is vital to carry out the following steps:
✅ Regular Self-Examination: Regular self-examination of your thoughts, attitudes, and activities. (2 Corinthians 13:5)
✅ Trusted Friends: Look for trusted friends to ensure transparency and encouragement through constant scrutiny of your activities and mentorship.
✅ Honesty and Openness: In your relationship with those around you, ensure constant honesty and openness to foster trust and accountability.
SEARCHLIGHT: Secret sin is a monster that can have devastating effects if care is not taken. Apart from affecting us, it can also affect others around us. In the battle against Ai, 36 Israelite soldiers were killed just because of one man’s sin.
PRAYERS: O LORD, liberate me from hidden sins ravaging my life, in Jesus’ mighty name.
BIBLE READING: Hosea 13, 15 & Joel 1, Mark 10
PST. MICHAEL OMOLE
