Death for sin

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the Lord. And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor. (Joshua 7:22–26)

Yesterday I glanced at this passage and spent some time thinking how it points to NT truth. Achan had sinned by taking spoil from a battle and did a forbidden thing; he hid it for himself, angered God, and the price was death.

In the NT, Jesus paid the price for my sin. Sin is simply living for myself and doing whatever I want that is contrary to the will of God. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)

Honesty must admit the extent of sin and its power to rule a person’s life, even a seemingly good person, if their lives are not motivated by faith. It is easy to take the spoils of our battles and the trinkets of this world for ourselves. According to the Word of God, this deserves death.

However, Jesus’ death set me free from the penalty I deserve. God hates sin and it must be punished, but He sent Jesus to take that punishment, unlike Achan who showed his lack of faith by his actions. There is another NT death though, the death of my old nature. 

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (2 Corinthians 5:14)

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:3–10)

These passages stress the importance of saying no to sin because it is the way that my identity and relationship with Christ is made visible. Sin is the actions of a dead person, someone separated from God and the life of His Son. God put that nature to sin to death, but if I don’t obey Him, I might as well be under a pile of rocks.

Achan’s sin ruined the power of God’s army against their enemies but also robbed God of His glory by choosing his own way instead of obedience. 

Jesus, when I obey You, You are exalted. People see You in action and marvel. But I must die to my ways and consider the old me dead and useless. This means humility, not pride, and saying no to all my ideas and plans so I can hear and obey You.