If you were a “Seinfeld” comedy-show watcher, you probably clearly remember the scene when George Costanza was getting dumped by a girl with the old, “It’s not you. It’s me routine.” When he realized that she was using “his” line for ending a relationship, he became defensive and told her, “You’re giving me the ‘It’s not you. It’s me.’ routine? I invented ‘it’s not you it’s me’. Nobody tells me it’s them and not me. If it’s anybody, it’s me.” The girl says, “Alright, George, it’s you.” He proudly says, “You’re right it’s me.”
Well, in the book of Joshua, chapter 7, God turned that saying around and said, “It’s not me. It’s you!” In this chapter the Israelites had already crossed over the Jordan with Joshua as their leader. God had instructed them not to take any of the cursed plunder in a city they had overtaken. But one man did. That one man had noticed a beautiful Shinar robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a fifty-shekel bar of gold. He coveted them, took them, and buried the contents in his tent. This one man’s mistake cost others their lives. When men’s lives were lost, Joshua cried out to God and asked Him why. In verses 10-12, “The LORD said to Joshua, “Why are you down there with your face on the ground? Stand up! The Israelites sinned against me. They have broken the agreement that I commanded them to obey. They took some of the things that I commanded them to destroy. They have stolen from me. They have lied. They have taken those things for themselves. 12 That is why the army of Israel turned and ran away from the fight. They did that because they have done wrong. They should be destroyed. I will not continue to help you or be with you unless you destroy everything I commanded you to destroy.”
After all was made right, God was with the Israelites again.
We need to learn from them, again. When you covet something or someone that is not yours and God says that it is not supposed to be yours, leave it alone. Don’t go against God. When you make mistakes, it’s not just you who ends up getting hurt or ruined; your actions affect others too. Honor God. Praise Him Confess your sins, and don’t hid anything in your confession (He knows all anyhow). God will make you right again through your confession.
It’s a new day! Start fresh and be a blessing.
Happy Sunday!
It's a new day!
| April 22 |