Beneath the Surface

Joshua 6:15-19 (NIV)
15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a] to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise, you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

Have you ever noticed how some problems remain hidden until it's almost too late? Like going to the dentist and finding out about cavities you didn’t know you had. Let’s take a look at Joshua 6:15-19, where the Israelites were instructed to march around Jericho and devote everything in the city to the Lord. This story sets the stage for understanding the importance of addressing hidden issues in our lives before they cause us serious trouble.

Since I was a kid, I've always disliked going to the dentist. Every visit seemed to uncover new issues lurking beneath the surface of my teeth. Despite brushing regularly, my lack of consistent preventive care like flossing and avoiding sugary drinks led to cavities and other problems. Similarly, in our spiritual lives, we may have hidden issues that we are unaware of until the Holy Spirit reveals them.

Much like those hidden dental issues, we can have spiritual problems lying dormant beneath the surface. If these issues go unattended, they can develop into more significant problems that eventually surface and disrupt our lives. It's essential to be proactive in our spiritual maintenance, just as we should be with our dental health.

Joshua faced a significant challenge when the Israelites suffered a defeat at Ai, a battle that should have been an easy victory. This defeat was a direct consequence of Achan's hidden sin, as described in Joshua 7:1. Achan had taken some of the devoted things from Jericho, directly disobeying God's command. His hidden sin brought trouble not only upon himself but upon the entire community.

When hidden sins remain unaddressed, they can lead to defeat and destruction in our spiritual battles. Just as a cavity can spread and cause more damage if not treated, sin can grow and cause more significant issues if we don't deal with it promptly. The story of Achan serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing hidden sins to prevent further spiritual defeat.

Hidden issues, whether they are cavities in our teeth or sins in our lives, need to be addressed before they cause more significant problems. We must seek God's help in revealing and addressing these hidden sins. Regular spiritual check-ups, just like dental check-ups, are vital to maintaining our health and preventing larger issues.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You today, acknowledging that we may have hidden issues in our lives that we are unaware of. We ask for Your Holy Spirit to reveal these hidden sins and give us the strength to address them. Help us to be proactive in our spiritual maintenance, seeking Your guidance and wisdom in all that we do. May we live lives fully devoted to You, free from hidden sins and ready to walk in Your victory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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