"Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil"

Joshua 7:19a  "Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, by telling the truth."  

When I was growing up, I remember my Mom saying  "Tell the truth and shame the Devil."  I wasn't sure where that phrase came from, wondering if someone read verse 19 and came up with the flip side of this verse...my curiosity being piqued, I looked it up.  

I don't know how the saying came about, but Shakespeare used "Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil" in 1597 when writing Henry IV.   But it can be traced back even further to preacher Hugh Latimer who said it in 1555, and it was a common saying of that day.    In any case, I like the preacher man's saying, but I like verse 19 even better..."Tell the Truth and give glory to the LORD!"

In Joshua 6:18, God said there would be trouble for Israel, if anyone took anything from Jericho...and we see the trouble unfolding.  It turns out that Achan was the one causing the trouble...and guess what his names means in the Hebrew...it means "troubler."  Unfortunately, he is fulfilling the meaning of his name and suffering the consequences of his sin.

Achan does tells the truth eventually and confesses that he has sinned against the LORD.  To sin is to miss the mark, the holy standard of God.  And while God always forgives those who truly repent, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

1 John 1:9.  Sin will always cost us something. 

Joshua 6:18a  "Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you youselves will be completely destroyed..." 

 In Achan's case...it cost him his life and the life of his family.

Father, I thank you that my salvation is secure in Jesus!  But in Joshua 7:13 you said that the people could not defeat their enemies, because there were things hidden that was to be set-apart for you.  Would you search my heart, see if there is anything that I have kept for myself that should have been given to You.  Is there anything that is hindering Your power in my life and affecting the lives of my family or church family...causing us to be ineffective in fighting off our enemies.  If so, show it to me, so I might repent and get right with you...giving glory to You, LORD.  In Jesus name, amen.  

May the LORD bless your day,

Sharon