The
Refuge

“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills, and people will stream to it.  Many nations will come and say, “come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of God of Jacob.”           Micah 4:1-2

Our church can be Your home.

 

 

 

January 26, 2003


God’s “First” Principle



Text:  Joshua 6: 17-21; 7:1; 7:19-21

Thesis:  God gives His best and demands our best in return.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Jericho would be the “First” city to be destroyed in Canaan.  (6:20-21)




The penalty for Canaan’s sin had been delayed until now.
            (See Genesis 15:16)



God is merciful to people and nations.




God destroyed the city walls by supernatural means.




God claimed this city for His own.




II. God commanded the (“accursed things” KJV), the (“devoted things” NIV), the
“First” to be brought into the treasury of the Lord. (6: 17-19)




The Hebrew word is “cherum”. It is a religious concept meaning “to put under a
ban or separate.”



The Israelites were not to take anything for themselves.  This was to be the
“First” to be devoted exclusively to God.




III. Achan took God’s “First” to spend on personal needs. (7:20-21)




The “devoted things” belong to God exclusively not Achan.




Achan sinned against God by taking what belong to God.




"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.”  But you ask, `How do we rob you?'
“In tithes and offerings.  You are under a curse--the whole nation
of you--because you are robbing me.”
(Mal 3: 8-9)
God punished the whole nation of Israel because of Achan’s theft.




God was teaching Israel to be His chosen community.




Achan’s sin was so grievous to God and detrimental to the community that God
took his life.




BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES APPLIED

God gives us His best and He expects us to give of our best.

Relationships flourish when both parties give 100%.


If God is not “First” He might as well be last.


Our tithe is a “devoted thing” that belongs to God.


The method that we give the tithe to God is in keeping with the “First”
            principle taught in the Bible.

 

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