Take a Stand

Joshua commanded the children of Israel, just as Moses had done before, not to touch the accursed things. But among the spoils, Achan saw an expensive Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels. He coveted them, took them, and hid them in the ground under his tent, with the silver under it. Josh. 6:18 and 7:21.

Achan would surely have won the victory if he had meditated more on the Lord’s commandments and had taken a stand on God’s side against the accursed things. But when he saw those things, he coveted them, because he had not overcome the lust in his heart beforehand.

The Lord spoke to Joshua and said, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage.” Josh. 1:5-6. Joshua believed God and took a stand for Him, and the effect was that the entire nation swore faithfulness to Joshua, saying:

“All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses.”

Joshua won the people’s confidence because he had taken a stand for God in his heart, even if all the people were to oppose him. If Saul had taken such a stand, he would never have feared the people when, in their lust, they transgressed the Lord’s commandment and took the accursed things. 1 Sam. 15:24. This fear was his downfall—he fell away from God and lost his kingship.

Rahab the harlot and Ruth the widow took a stand in favor of the people of God and were grafted into the nation of the Jews, even though they were born as Gentiles. They became part of the very lineage from which the Lord Jesus Christ would be born.

We, too, must take a stand, because we are living in the last days, which Paul prophesied about when he wrote:

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful . . . having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

We must take a stand for God against this form of godliness and turn away from it. Such ones are like Jannes and Jambres; they resist the truth and by their trickery deceive all who can be deceived. But for the upright of heart, light will arise and the knowledge of the Lord will dawn, so that they in time will be able to see through everything that is false and find grace to help in time of need. Take a stand with Him outside the camp. Take a stand and hear what the Spirit says to the church. Take a stand: dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Rom. 6:11.