Thursdays with Joshua

Read Joshua 7:25-26 – And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day. (NKJV)

There were two rock piles in the Israelite camp at Gilgal—the first place where they established residence in their Promised Land. The first pile came from the crossing of the Jordan River. The second was built on this day—to cover the wicked failure of Achan and the devastation that failed obedience can cause. Two rock piles that may have looked very similar but had very different messages. But only once did God direct them to walk around a rock pile and tell the stories to their children. That was the command God gave for the first rock pile—one that demonstrated God’s power and the blessings He would bring to those who trust Him. He never commanded they tell stories around Achan’s pile. No, God wanted His army to march out each day with confidence. That’s why they needed the rocks from the Jordan’s riverbed to be a familiar landmark. It’s the same for us. God doesn’t use our failures to motivate our faith, but He wants us to celebrate around the “rocky” reminders of His powerful works among us. Spend time reflecting on how God has blessed you and answered your prayers, and your faith will grow. If you dwell on your failures, only your failings will get bigger in your heart.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.