Cannot be hidden

In the area where I live in Japan, we speak Kansai dialect.  And one of those words unique to Kansai is “akan,” which basically means, “No good.”

Coincidentally, that’s how Achan’s name translates into Japanese.  Mr. “No Good.”  And he certainly brought about a lot of trouble upon the Israelites.

Basically, he took things for himself from Jericho, that God said was to be completely destroyed.  And because he did so, God was not with the Israelites when they battled the city of Ai and they were completely routed.

Joshua and the rest of the people were in despair, asking God, “What happened?”  But God said, “Get up.  Israel has sinned.  That’s why you lost this battle.  And things will not be made right until you get rid of this sin from your camp.”

And so, the people stood before God, and God brought out what Achan had done in front of all the people.  And only when his sin had been dealt with, could the Israelites move on with the plans God had for them.

The same is true with us.  Sometimes we hide sin in our hearts, and we think that nobody knows.  But no matter how well we  hide our sin from others, we cannot hide it from God.  Earlier on, God had told the people,

You may be sure that your sin will find you out.  (Numbers 32:23)

And it was certainly true in Achan’s case.  The problem with hidden sin is two-fold.

First, our sin does affect other people.  We may not think it does.  Achan certainly didn’t.  But it was because of his sin, that the Israelites were defeated against the city of Ai.

Second, hidden sin keeps us from seeing God’s plan for us realized in our lives.  God won’t leave us if we sin.  He’s made that promise.  But neither will he bless us.  And so if we want to see God’s blessing in our lives, we cannot leave sin hidden in our lives.  It must be dealt with.

The good news is that God is always willing to forgive.  It says in I John 1:9,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

So let us never hide sin in our lives.  Rather, let us bring it out before God that he might forgive us and bless us.