"…for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you." After Israel experienced their great victory at Jericho, one of the men from Israel's army took of the spoils of Jericho and hid them in the floor of his tent. Israel proceeded to the next city called Ai, but during that battle 36 Israeli men died and the rest fled in defeat. All because one man named "Achan" disobeyed God, and did that which was forbidden by God. "…and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel." case 36 men died. Why, because Achan disobeyed God and caused Israel to lose their power and standing with God. God saw Israel as one, just as He sees the family as one, and the Church as one. Achan's family was also disgraced by his sin, for Achan was not the only one stoned to death for his crime, his family died along with him. Our hidden sins , if not confessed, will always result in harm to those that we are closest to.
