We’ve been discussing the doomed Achan and how his misappropriation of God’s Holy Property affected all of Israel.
The lesson learned is how the sinful actions of just one person can infect the whole group.
Now whenever I have a good chance, I like to show how the stories from the Tanak are connected to some famous verses in the New Testament.
So let’s do that today.
Take a look at the following set of verses from 1 Corinthians Chapter 5.
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Yeshua on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Yeshua is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”-1 Corinthians 5:1-5
In many ways, I think the situation being presented here is quite similar to what Israel faced with Achan’s rebellion.
The only big difference is instead of ancient Israel, we’re dealing with members of the body of Messiah.
Nevertheless, the lesson is the same.
When a person sins, the damage done affects everybody.
Therefore, the sinner must be identified, judged according to Torah, and then expelled from the group if necessary.
Notice how Paul says the trespasser should be handed over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so he doesn’t infect others with his sinful ways.
Let’s look at another set of famous verses.
“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”-Matthew 5:29-30
These verses come from Yeshua’s often quoted Sermon on the Mount.
Again, the same principle is being expressed.
If there is a part of the whole that is sinful, it must be removed or it will affect the whole body.
Understand that Yeshua is speaking metaphorically here.
He’s not telling you to literally cut off your hand or take a sharp knife and gouge out your eye.
The unrepentant sinner must be removed from the group to protect the group, period.
Up until now, this discussion has been focused on the one sinner who is hurting everyone else.
But there’s another important lesson to be learned.
That lesson is…
…be extra careful who you yourself choose to keep company with.
Because if you make yourself a member of a group that is against God, like it or not, you will be affected by their sins.
And the same goes for family members.
As painful as it may be, sometimes we have no choice but to separate ourselves from our mother or father, or brother or sister, if they are hindering are walk with the Lord.
Finally, again notice that Israel had no idea they were being held responsible for the sin of one man.
Achan had stolen God’s holy property in secret.
It wasn’t until they suffered the painful and humiliating consequences of losing the battle at the city of Ai that they realized something was not right.
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