Achan’s Sin

But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. – Joshua 7:1

They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. – Joshua 7:5

The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. – Joshua 7:10-12 NIV

(In context Joshua 7:1-26)

Why was God angry with the whole nation we’re only Achan had sinned? This is a reminder of the corporate nature of the people of God. The Israelites were like a football team in one sense. If one player committed penalty then the entire team was penalized. As you continue to read in this chapter in verse number 16 Joshua pronounced a sentence on Achan and his children and he had them put to death in accordance with the lords commands. So this is an example of how one persons decision or sin affected their entire family.

Elimelek in Moab

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. – Ruth 1:1-5 NIV

Elimelek was Naomi husband and they lived in Bethlehem during a famine. He decided to move his family to Moab thinking it would be better. The Moabite people oppressed the people of Isreal at this time and Elimelek ended up dying. Naomi and her sons stayed there for 10 years. During that time her sons both got married, had no children and then they died in this foreign land. Naomi’s circumstances spiralled down to where she had no way to provide for herself in Moab. This decision that Elimelek made to move to Moab during a famine was a bad one. I can say this because his family with the exception of Naomi was dead within 10 years and His sons had no children to pass on his family name. And later on in the book of Ruth you can read about Boaz and how he was the Kinsman redeemer for Ruth.

Joseph takes his family to Egypt

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” – Matthew 2:13-15 NIV

This was the second dream or vision that Joseph received from God. The first dream was to let him know that Mary’s child would be the Messiah. This second dream would tell him how to protect the child’s life. Joseph was responsible for the safety of his family and through divine guidance, Joseph made the decision to lead his family to Egypt to safety from Harod, who was killing all boys under two years old. Joseph was sensitive to Gods guidance and willing to do what God’s will at any cost. This is an example of how a decision saved his family and in my opinion extremely important for men and Fathers especially.

Abraham’s Call

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. – Genesis 12:1-4 NIV

When God called him, Abram moved out in faith from Ur to Haran and finally to Canaan. God then established a covenant with Abram. Gods said that he would found a great nation through Abram. And not only will that nation be blessed but other nations will be blessed through his descendants. The nation of Israel would come through Abram. Jesus came from Abram’s family tree. And through Jesus we all have a relationship with God. Now just imagine if Abram didn’t make that decision to step out and follow Gods direction to leave from his country, his people and his pagan culture in Genesis 12:1?

The Jailer, His Household and Salvation

But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. – Acts 16:28-33 NIV

The jailer just witnessed the power of God that was released through Worship. He thought all the prisoners escaped and was about to kill himself but Paul urged him not to because all the prisoners were still there. This Jailers response to this miraculous display of Gods power was to ask how he can be saved. This decision to receive salvation also was received by his entire household (family & servants in his home). Likewise God is showing us signs that he is willing to extend salvation to our households every day. But you have to receive that invitation. You may have children or a spouse or other family members who need Jesus. God is able to bring salvation into your household but you have to make the decision to invite Him in.

The Widow’s Oil

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” – 2 Kings 4:1

Poor people and debtors were allowed to pay their debts by selling themselves and their children as slaves. God ordered rich people and creditors not to take advantage of these people during their time of extreme need. (Deut 15:1-18 for example). In this example, the decision of the widows husband not to be diligent with his debts put her and her family in a terrible position when he died. But this woman put her pride aside and cried out for help from the man of God Elisha. She found that she had all that she needed in her house to pay off all her debts. The learning point here is that we all need to be diligent to look at what God gave us and use it to its fullest extent. When we look inside ourselves we will find that God has given each of us enough to live free of bondage from debt and we can actually live and support our family out of the value that is in each of us. So make the decision to look inside you (your house) and find your value.