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Post by Josh on Oct 9, 2009 8:23:28 GMT -8
Post your comments/ questions/ discussion starters on Joshua chapters 7 and 8 as replies to this post.
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Post by Josh on Oct 13, 2009 16:11:27 GMT -8
A question: why do you think Joshua had Achan's entire family put to death?
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Post by Josh on Oct 14, 2009 18:49:49 GMT -8
A few more questions:
What does this passage say about secret sins or unrepentant sin?
What does this passage say about the effects of sin on others?
Any preliminary thoughts on these questions?
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Post by Josh on Oct 18, 2009 18:18:45 GMT -8
Today I mentioned two Scriptures which lead me to believe that the reason Achan's family was stoned along with him was because they were involved in some way in his deceit.
Here are the passages, which I think make it clear that God did not hold them responsible for their father's sin:
Deut. 24:16
Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.
Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
However, we discussed today the fact that the Israelites as a whole did experience the "anger" (judgment) of God second-hand because of Achan's sin.
As we discussed, there is a tension in Scripture between individual responsibility and corporate responsibility.
Our decisions/ actions/ choices/ sins can negatively affect others who are innocent- especially if they are part of our family or community.
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Post by Josh on Oct 18, 2009 18:20:38 GMT -8
We also discussed the parallel between this passage and the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5, stressing that the particular concerns of this passage aren't just "Old Testament" relics, but that the issue of hidden sin and the spurning of God's grace is a very real predicament to be watchful against.
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