FAITH CAPSULE: Do not embrace covetousness which is a sin to deny one from God’s presence.
Joshua 7
The character of a covetous one is a greedy, acquisitive one with a strong desire for, especially material possessions. Covetous implies inordinate desire often for another’s possessions.
Covetousness is rooted in the lack of contentment.
One with covetousness is in sin against the word of God, the evidence of the lack of fear for God.
The Bible records, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17)
Covetousness will stand against one from going forward in the journey of life.
What is it that is hindering you consciously or unconsciously from going forward in your journey of life?
Covetousness is a sin to deny one from obtaining promises in the word of God.
The obedience of the Israelites to God’s word was the reason for their victories over their enemies while their sin of covetousness was the cause of their loss against the people of Ai with lesser might of military.
The Israelites assumed victory against the people of Ai, not knowing that their sin was before God, to deny them victory.
Are you with sin that is enough to deny your victory where victory should not become a victim of being defeated?
The falling of the Israelites was the result of their sin of covetousness before God that prompted Joshua to go before God as stated, “And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought these people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!” (Joshua 7:7)
Joshua did not know that sin was their fall but was curious why their past situations were better than their present challenge.
Are you one with a feeling that your past is better than your present?
It could be that God has departed from you just as He departed from the Israelites due to their sin of covetousness.
On behalf of the Israelites, Joshua pleaded before God when God told him about Achan’s sin of covetousness. Achan’s indiscipline is in covetousness, his disobedient before God which counted against all the Israelites.
Achan transgressed God’s command was rooted in deception. (Joshua 7:10-11)
The sin of covetousness brought the Israelites down, not able to stand before their enemies but turned their backs before their enemies.
In your challenging battle, are you turning your back before your enemies?
As an acclaimed believer that answers as an overcomer in times of challenge, what is it that is overwhelming you?
Consistently, obediently engage the word of God that does not fail.
The obedience to God’s word yesterday will not count for disobedience of today.
The Israelites’ victories in the past were the result of obedience while defeats suffered later was the disobedience which denied them victory over the people of Ai.
In your journey of life, do not embrace covetousness which is a sin to deny one from God’s presence.
Prayer for today: Ask against covetousness in your life.