Live Happy … Today – Day 8

Achan and Noah: What do these two men have in common?

In Joshua 6, God commanded Joshua and his warriors not to take any spoils from the city of Jericho when it was destroyed. Achan, one of the Israeli soldiers, ignored God’s command, took pretty clothes, silver and gold, and buried it in his tent. This made God angry. During the Israeli’s next battle, 36 men died. Joshua and the rest of the warriors were shocked. Didn’t God promise to protect them against their enemy and to give them victory?

In Joshua 7, we read that Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down to the ground before God, pleading for an answer to make sense from the situation. God answered him. One man’s disobedience to God caused their defeat. The next day, Achan was identified as the guilty man. He and his family were burned, along with their belongings. One man’s disobedience destroyed himself and his descendants.

In Genesis 6, we read that the sin of Adam and Eve’s descendants grieved God, and he was sorry that he had ever made man. God was at the point of destroying humankind. Then, he saw Noah, who was a fair man. Noah was a man who walked blameless before him. God decided to save Noah and his family. He commanded Noah to build an ark and when the rain came down, Noah’s descendants were safe. One man’s obedience saved his family and gave them a new life after the flood.

Throughout the Bible, the importance of obedience to God is emphasised. In Exodus 20:5-6 God said: “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” In John 14:15 Jesus says: “If you love me, keep my commands.” And in Psalm 112:1-2 we read: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”

Do you realise that your obedience or disobedience to God influences your descendants? Even if you are the only believer in your family, you can be sure that your obedience will leave a lasting legacy of blessing for your descendants. God bless.