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In Joshua 7
● notice the pair of two-word phrases- “broke faith” (1) and “devoted things” (1, 1, 11, 12, 12, 13, 15)- which loom over the whole chapter,
● register the patience with which the writer works back through the genealogy of Achan, ending at the tribe of Judah, a care repeated in the process of discernment the following day (13-15) in order to find the precise location of blame for the faith breaking,
● contrast Achan, of the tribe of Judah, who broke faith, with the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5), who kept faith,
● notice how “transgressed the covenant,” actually “transgressed my covenant” (11) and “transgressed the covenant of the Lord” (15), picks up and extends the idea of breaking faith, a central idea for this covenant-making God,
● ponder “devoted,” here used in reference to people and things purposed for destruction but also used for things purposed for God, seeing in this chapter narrative testimony of the importance of God’s boundaries, of the need to keep devoted things devoted,
● understand how Joshua’s call upon Achan to tell the truth (19) is tied to giving glory and praise to God,
● notice how specific Achan’s confession is,
● remember when you read of God’s call for the people to “consecrate” (13) themselves (and to be consecrated by Joshua) that God had called for similar preparation by Moses and the people before Sinai (Exodus 19:10, 14), and
● understand that, in the “work that he does for [his] great name” (9), this covenant-keeping God who practices steadfast love can take the valley named “trouble” (26) and make it become prophetically a door of hope as well (Hosea 2:15).
Thank you,

Randy Tumlinson