The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-12
81 IT 1MTzTGBROKEYN
I|lEABER~NACLE
The Sin of COvetousness
"STUDY~oN


BE sure your sin will find you OUT
Numbers 1928.
The Iraelites flushed with the victory
over Jericho, proceeded with the conquest
of Canoon. Spies were sent to All. Re-
turning, these advised that the place was
small, and two or three thousand men
would be quite sufficient for it's capture.
From their experience at Jericho they
anticipated that none of the Israelites
would be killed; that their enemies would
be SO terror-stricken as to render little or
no defense. But the experiences at Al
were the reverse. Thirty-six Israelites
were slain: and Israeps army, perceiviDg
that they had not the Lords favor, fled
before their enemies.
Joshua and the Elders of Israel were
hewlldered at this defeat. They prostrat-
ed themselves before the Ark of the Gov
enant, bewailing the trouble, and espe-
cially fearful of the influence which the
defeat would have-encouraging their en-
emies and discouraging Israel.
The Accused or Devoted Thing
In our common version, accursed has
been used where devoted would have been
preferable. The Lord informed Joshua
that the Divine favor was not with Israel
because of their unfaithfulness. When
Jericho was captured. a portion of the
spoils had been appropriated by one Of
the soldiers. According to the Lords ar
rangement all the spoils were devoted in
advance; hence this was breach of their
agreement and Israel's army could have
no blessing until the matter was rectified.
In order that the lesson might be learn
ed by the entire people, the Lord directed
that the representatives of all the tribes
should appear before Him, and lots be
cast; and that thus would be indicated
the tribe to which the guilty one belonged.
In like manner the different families of
that tribe were tested, and the family
found. Thus step by step the matter
came down to Achan, who was the one
indicated as guilty.
The Penalty Upon Achan
The penalty upon Achan was death by
stoning, and after the stoning the corpse
was burned-the burning indicating SYM
bolically that there was no hope of fu-
ture life for him. 1t is our thought how
ever, that this was a part of the general
allegory; and that Achan, as a member
OF Adams family must have share with
all the race In the redemption provided
by Jesus death.
AS the Sodomites, redeemed by the merit
of Jesus sacrifice, will be awakened
from the sleep of death during the Mil
lennum, and their experiences will be
more tolerable than those of the people
of Chorazin and Bethsaida, so 1t will sure
ly be with Achan. AS the apostle de-
clares, these typical experiences of the
destruction which will be the ultimate
punishment of all who sin wilfully, know
ingly. intelligently.--1 Corinthians 10:l1.
CovetOusness in Our Day
Perhaps at no time in the worlds his
tory has there been so much covetousness
as in our day. How few comparatively
would do very differently from what
Achan did If all such were to be stoned
to death and burned, the world would be
one vast furneral pyre. True, they are
not deferred by fear of any such punish
ment. Nevertheless, large proportion of
them profess to believe that for all such
sins the penalty is enternal torture. Yea,
many who are ready to condemn Joshua's s
course in stoning Achan are ready to be-
lieve that the God of Love. the God OF all
Grace, the Father of Mercies, would do
10 times worse by practically the entire
human family-all except the sanity few
who have come into vital relationship
with the Redeerner.
Alas, how twisted our minds have be-
comet How glad we are that the true
light Is now shining, and chasing away