MONDAY, OCTOBER 23
Scripture: Joshua 7:1

Joshua 7:1 says, “But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.” We see that Israel was defeated at Ai and they were ready to give up. Disobedience breaks the covenant we have with God. Israel turned their back, ran away from warriors in Ai and Joshua started to grieve and lament. He had the tribes draw lots to determine where the disobedience was. The first thing we need to learn from Joshua 7:1 is that disobedience carries a penalty – not only for the disobedient, but for the whole nation. It we decide to tolerate sin in the camp, then we have to live with the consequences. When judgment comes on a nation because of the wicked, both the unsaved and righteous suffer. That is why we have an obligation to pray the wicked into the judgment of God in order that the remainder can be saved and kept from harm.