In Regard to the Devoted Things

This popular post has been updated from its original publication on audreyfrank.org  in March 2018.

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.

Joshua 7:1

At times reading the Bible, beholding it, is like staring into a burning book. The words lick with flames like a ravenous fire, determined to burn away the perishable in my heart and soul.

The text of Joshua 7 is searing, its flames rising ever higher, burning my gaze and drawing me in. The story of Achan’s sin.

Achan acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things. He took some of them. Achan took God’s glory for himself. #holiness Share on X

The “devoted things” here is a Hebrew term referring to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them (NIV margin notes).

Strong’s Concordance defines the word 3051 hērem as coming from hāram, meaning to destroy totally or either completely devote. Something or someone hērem is devoted unto divine service, or oppositely, can be a person or thing marked for destruction. The extreme definitions have this in common: both are set apart by holy decree. The word is most often used in the sense of something forbidden or prohibited (OT Lexical Aids, Hebrew-Greek Study Bible).

Today in Arabic, haram is used primarily in the sense of something forbidden.

These persons or things, then, can be entirely devoted to God or entirely destroyed in obedience to God. This is God’s either/or nature. Holy/unholy. No grey areas. He is completely unblemished.

I am deeply convicted by these flame words.

I tend to take those things devoted to divine service and try to fashion glory for myself from them. Maybe you understand my habit. Those things in my life or those people who have been set apart for divine service should remain in God’s hands, not mine. My book, my children, my marriage, my ministry—all belong to the Lord.

But in every one, at one time or another, I have taken God’s glory. Controlling, striving, manipulating.

Joshua said to Achan, so tenderly and with mercy in verse 19: “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

This was a solemn charge to tell the truth.

Psalm 32 promises that God will “look me directly in the eye, and lead me”. If we will answer His tender question echoed in Joshua’s words, He will look directly into our eyes and expose our sin.

“My child, give glory to My name alone and give Me the praise. Tell Me what you have done; do not hide it from Me.”

Today I am giving the projects and people dear to me back to the One who has set them apart for Himself. They are safe in His hands, and will surely display His glory and purpose in the world.

Are you brave enough to approach Him with me, to let God look you directly in the eye and lead you? To tell the truth, I’m not really brave enough on my own. Oh, but the tenderness of our God! He draws us with kindness and steadfast love. He is always merciful. He speaks through His word and shows me my sin. He helps me turn away from myself and set my eyes upon Him again.

God does this for every one of us if we are willing. I hope you will join me in the prayer of my heart today.

Please forgive me, Lord. Destroy the sin, the coveting in me that desires to have the glory for myself. To take it. To control the outcome, to make it my own, through my efforts. I give you____________________________. Let today be my Valley of Achor (Joshua 7), that will surely lead one day to a doorway of hope (Hosea 2). Amen.

I don’t exactly know how to walk from this valley as a dead man. Achan was killed there. His whole family was stoned. Let us live dead, as a friend of mine says. Let us walk up from here, dead to our own glory. For the Lord will raise us to life again through His son Jesus, the Messiah. To God be the glory!

@audreycfrank