06/12/2020
We continue with our series that we started 6 weeks ago sharing through the book of Joshua.
1. The Tithe is Set-Apart for God
Joshua 7:1; 10-13
7 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. So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel. 10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. 13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.
God had asked Israel to set apart Jericho, the first city for Himself. They were to destroy all things and set apart the gold and silver for the house of the LORD. But one-man Achan, took some of the treasures for Himself.
How it relates to the tithe:
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
-
- If we want God to be in our midst and help us fight our battles, we must honor Him with what belongs to Him.
- The tithe invites God in our ‘business’: home, marriage, work,
2. Tithing Deals with our own Selfish Desires
Joshua 7:19-26
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD.
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today.”
Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.
- God wants to Remove unholy desires in us. Money is never the problem. But the love of money. Tithing puts our affection first and foremost on the LORD and not on things. (1 Tim. 6:10)
- God wants to remind us that He is the one who supplies everything for our enjoyment.
- Tithing reminds us that God is the source of everything and that He will not withhold any good thing from us.
