{"id":7778,"date":"2017-02-21T21:59:17","date_gmt":"2017-02-21T15:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=7778"},"modified":"2026-05-09T13:46:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T18:46:50","slug":"fear-deuteronomy-part-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=7778","title":{"rendered":"Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, stole some of the riches<\/em> [of Jericho which had been devoted to ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>]. \u00a0The Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) was furious <\/em>(ch\u00e2r\u00e2h<\/a><\/em>, \u05d5\u05d9\u05d7\u05e8; Septuagint<\/a>: \u1f10\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u1f7d\u03b8\u03b7, a form of \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03cc\u03c9<\/a>; \u02bcaph<\/em>, \u05d0\u05e3<\/a>; Septuagint: \u1f40\u03c1\u03b3\u1fc7, a form of \u1f40\u03c1\u03b3\u03ae<\/a>) with the Israelites<\/em>.[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I\u2019m still considering the third occurrence of\u00a0yir\u02bc\u00e2h<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(\u05d5\u05d9\u05e8\u05d0\u05ea\u05da) in the Bible, the word I\u2019d hoped would distinguish\u00a0the fear of the Lord\u00a0from ordinary\u00a0fear.\u00a0 I\u2019ve skipped ahead a bit to explore what life was like for Israel under law as the sharp tip of the sword of divine judgment.<\/p>\n

I notice right away that Achan stole some of the riches<\/em> (ch\u00earem<\/a><\/em>, \u05d4\u05d7\u05e8\u05dd) but ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h <\/em>was furious with the Israelites <\/em>(literally, \u201cthe sons of Israel\u201d). \u00a0Achan’s was the “perfect” crime. \u00a0No one but ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h <\/em>knew what he had done.\u00a0 For Joshua it was business as usual.\u00a0 He <\/em>sent men from Jericho to Ai<\/em>[2]<\/sup><\/a> as spies.\u00a0 They reported that Ai would be easy to take: Don\u2019t tire out the whole army, for Ai is small<\/em>, the spies said.\u00a0 So about three thousand men went up, but they fled from the men of Ai. \u00a0The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them<\/em>\u2026[3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The impact was immediate and devastating (Joshua 7:5b-9 NET):<\/p>\n

The people\u2019s courage melted away (<\/em>m\u00e2sas<\/a>, \u05d5\u05d9\u05de\u05e1)<\/em> like water.<\/p>\n

Joshua tore his clothes; he and the leaders of Israel lay face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h,\u00a0\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> until evening and threw dirt on their heads. \u00a0Joshua prayed, \u201cO, Master (<\/em>\u02bc\u0103d\u00f4n\u00e2y<\/a>, \u05d0\u05d3\u05e0\u05d9)<\/em>, Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h,\u00a0\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em>! \u00a0Why did you bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites so they could destroy us? \u00a0If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! \u00a0O Lord (<\/em>\u02bc\u0103d\u00f4n\u00e2y, \u05d0\u05d3\u05e0\u05d9)<\/em>, what can I say now that Israel has retreated before its enemies? \u00a0When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will turn against us and destroy the very memory of us from the earth. \u00a0What will you do to protect your great reputation?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the previous essay<\/a> I wondered \u201cif I should simply accept that\u00a0yir\u02bc\u00e2h<\/em>, similar to the fruit of the Spirit, comes from God.\u201d\u00a0 At this particular moment Joshua didn\u2019t believe\u2014This very day I will begin to fill all the people of the earth with dread and to terrify<\/em> (yir\u02bc\u00e2h<\/em>, \u05d5\u05d9\u05e8\u05d0\u05ea\u05da) them when they hear about you<\/em>[4]<\/sup><\/a>\u2014was a supernatural fear given by ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h.\u00a0 <\/em>Clearly, he thought that fear originated from the uninterrupted triumph of Israel\u2019s army: They<\/em> annihilated<\/em>\u00a0with the sword everything that breathed\u2026<\/em>[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>The Lord<\/em> (ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h,<\/em>\u00a0\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) responded to Joshua<\/em> (Joshua 7: 10-12 NET):<\/p>\n

Get up! \u00a0Why are you lying there face down (Table<\/a>)<\/em>? \u00a0Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment! \u00a0They have taken some of the riches (<\/em>ch\u00earem, \u05d4\u05d7\u05e8\u05dd)<\/em>; they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions (Table<\/a>)<\/em>. \u00a0The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation (<\/em>ch\u00earem, \u05dc\u05d7\u05e8\u05dd)<\/em>. \u00a0I will no longer be with you, unless you destroy what has contaminated (<\/em>ch\u00earem, \u05d4\u05d7\u05e8\u05dd)<\/em> you (Table<\/a>)<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here it didn\u2019t matter whether Joshua\u2019s command<\/a> to the army was ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h\u2019s <\/em>command or whether Joshua had understood Moses correctly<\/a>, for ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h t<\/em>ook full responsibility for Joshua\u2019s command[6]<\/sup><\/a>: <\/em>Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment!\u00a0 The one caught with the riches <\/em>(ch\u00earem<\/em>, \u05d1\u05d7\u05e8\u05dd) must be burned up along with all who belong to him, because he violated the Lord\u2019s covenant and did such a disgraceful thing in Israel<\/em>.[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I’ve written about what happened to Achan, his sons, daughters, ox, donkey, sheep, tent, and all that belonged to him<\/em>[8]<\/sup><\/a> elsewhere<\/a>.\u00a0 Here I want to consider the alternative.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Achan\u2019s confession reads: I saw among the goods we seized a nice robe from Babylon, two hundred silver pieces, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels.\u00a0 I wanted them, so I took them<\/em>.[9]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0Achan was one of the soldiers who annihilated<\/em> (ch\u00e2ram<\/a><\/em>, \u05d5\u05d9\u05d7\u05e8\u05d9\u05de\u05d5) with the sword everything that breathed in the city, including men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys<\/em>.[10]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 He had hacked and slashed his way through every living thing in the city to purge out wickedness<\/a><\/em>\u00a0from the promised land, and then became that wickedness himself.\u00a0 If we fault ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h <\/em>for dealing with Achan and all that was his in the way that he had dealt with others we would fault Him just the same for showing Achan mercy (James 2:8-13<\/a>).<\/p>\n

But that was then; this is now (Matthew 18:32-35<\/a> NET):<\/p>\n

\u201cThen his lord called the first slave and said to him, \u2018Evil slave! \u00a0I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! \u00a0Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I<\/a> showed it to you?\u2019 \u00a0And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed<\/a>. \u00a0So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart<\/a>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is one of the places from which the fathers of the Catholic Church have derived the doctrine of purgatory<\/a>.\u00a0 \u201cI have even heard elderly friends tell me how their Catholic schoolteachers would threaten unruly schoolboys with lurid descriptions of the fires of purgatory!\u201d [11]<\/sup><\/a> Robert Stackpole<\/a> wrote parenthetically.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t grow up Catholic so I never actually feared this particular passage.\u00a0 We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin<\/em>,[12]<\/sup><\/a> scared me as an adult returning from atheism.<\/p>\n

It has a Logic 101<\/a> quality that spoke to me early on.[13]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart<\/em>\u2014seemed more like a clever turn of a phrase.\u00a0 By the time it clicked with me it caused no fear, but granted me permission to forgive.\u00a0 It helped me to locate and distinguish the Holy Spirit from that cacophony of voices, if you will (that variety of impulses, if you will not) inside me.\u00a0 It gave me strength to stand against my religion and its many reasons for withholding forgiveness: \u201cyou will appear weak, they will gain an advantage, they will never learn, they don\u2019t deserve forgiveness, only God can forgive sins,\u201d etc.<\/p>\n

<\/a>If I examine my fear of the knowledge that everyone fathered by God does not sin<\/em>, the first thing I notice is that it didn\u2019t cause me to flee at that particular moment in my life.\u00a0 I searched the Bible instead, \u201clooking for loopholes<\/a>\u201d perhaps but seeking understanding. \u00a0The first understanding I received appealed to the philosophical bent of my mind and though it seems like a loophole to many, it helped me to locate and distinguish the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 7:13-20 NET):<\/p>\n

Did that which is good, then [e.g., the law<\/a>]<\/em>, become death to me? \u00a0Absolutely not! \u00a0But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. \u00a0For we know that the law is spiritual \u2013 but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. \u00a0For I don\u2019t understand what I am doing. \u00a0For I do not do what I want \u2013 instead, I do what I hate. \u00a0But if I do what I don\u2019t want, I agree (\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bc\u03c6\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9, a form of \u03c3\u03cd\u03bc\u03c6\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9<\/a>)<\/em> that the law is good. \u00a0But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me. \u00a0For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. \u00a0For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. \u00a0For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! \u00a0Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Being led by the Spirit came much more slowly for me.\u00a0 Mr Stackpole highlighted the problem: \u201cthe merits of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross are promised to those who repent in faith. \u00a0The real question is, What about those whose repentance was weak and half-hearted\u2026\u201d[14]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Purgatory wasn\u2019t the answer in my religious circle, but the quality and quantity of heavenly rewards.\u00a0 The \u201cweak and half-hearted\u201d would be \u201chippies\u201d in the social hierarchy of heaven.\u00a0 Colin Smith<\/a> wrote<\/a>: \u201cI trust that you will want to join me in storing up treasures in heaven, knowing that our righteousness is a gift from God in Christ Jesus, and that we serve a generous God who promises great rewards (100x!) to those who trust him and serve him faithfully.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>I didn\u2019t know that my righteousness is a gift from God<\/em> and probably thought that would be cheating.\u00a0 How could my position in the social hierarchy of heaven be a gift from God<\/em>?\u00a0 And the common Bible verses quoted seemed at first reading to confirm my understanding of justification by faith and sanctification by my works: If someone\u2019s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. \u00a0He himself will be saved, but only as through fire<\/em>.[15]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Jesus taught, \u201cBut God said to him, \u2018You fool! \u00a0This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?\u2019 \u00a0So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.\u201d<\/em>[16]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0And Paul instructed Timothy, Command those who are rich in this world\u2019s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. \u00a0Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. \u00a0In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life<\/em>.[17]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Thank God I am such an accomplished sinner.\u00a0 Praise God that his Holy Spirit would not \u201chelp\u201d me earn my social position in heaven by \u201cmy\u201d good works as He kept me hungering and thirsting for his righteousness<\/a>.\u00a0 I no longer feel any obligation to referee between purgatory<\/em> and heavenly rewards<\/em>.\u00a0 Both explanations were designed to encourage me to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness<\/em>[18]<\/sup><\/a> here and now.\u00a0 Neither was as effective on me as a hunger and thirst for righteousness<\/em>,[19]<\/sup><\/a> which I assume has come from God.<\/p>\n

The alternative\u2014that a hunger and thirst for Jesus’ righteousness originates with me\u2014doesn\u2019t scan.\u00a0 I\u2019m not that kind of guy.\u00a0 A desire to be right?\u00a0 That\u2019s me.\u00a0 A desire to appear righteous to you?\u00a0 Okay, that\u2019s probably me, too.\u00a0 But the hunger and thirst for righteousness which I now have did not originate with me.\u00a0 So what do I know about yir\u02bc\u00e2h<\/em>?<\/p>\n

Well, I\u2019ll start with what I don\u2019t know: I don\u2019t know whether yir\u02bc\u00e2h <\/em>was a supernatural fear from God or the natural result of confronting an army that took no prisoners and captured no slaves. \u00a0I know that yir\u02bc\u00e2h <\/em>was effective to accomplish God\u2019s purpose to eradicate the wicked people who inhabited the promised land: It mustered[20]<\/sup><\/a> their armies to march to their deaths.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think Israel had anything like the confidence in ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h <\/em>which would be required to slaughter a peaceful, welcoming people. \u00a0I\u2019m thinking that yir\u02bc\u00e2h <\/em>may have become the one Hebrew word to describe the combination of y\u00e2r\u00ea\u02bc <\/em>and \u02bc\u00e2man: they feared<\/em>\u00a0(y\u00e2r\u00ea\u02bc<\/a><\/em>, \u05d5\u05d9\u05d9\u05e8\u05d0\u05d5)\u00a0the Lord, and they believed<\/em>\u00a0(\u02bc\u00e2man<\/a><\/em>, \u05d5\u05d9\u05d0\u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5)\u00a0in the Lord.<\/em>[21]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0<\/em> And I have a compelling contrast between Rahab<\/a>, an Amorite<\/a> prostitute and innkeeper, who feared ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h <\/em>and Achan, an Israelite soldier and thief, who did not.<\/p>\n

<\/a>I don\u2019t have the hard-edged definitive kind of knowledge I like but I have enough encouragement to continue studying.\u00a0 Besides, the hard-edged definitive kind of knowledge I like is really only useful for judging you\u2014which brings me to the most bitter irony: When I take the name of ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>\/Jesus in vain by judging you for sins I share I lower the bar (Ezekiel 16:52-63<\/a>), so to speak, and make it easier<\/a>, if not expedient, for Him to show you mercy (Romans 11:29-31<\/a>).\u00a0 When the Holy Spirit has his way with me and I live his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control<\/em>[22]<\/sup><\/a> I condemn you who are not led by the Spirit of God<\/em>.[23]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The only way I can live with this most bitter irony, and continue to hunger and thirst for his righteousness, is to pray daily:
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cMy persistent prayer for justice\u201d[24]<\/sup><\/a> for all who call or have called or will call on our Father in heaven[25]<\/sup><\/a> \u201cis for the mercy on which everything depends,[26]<\/sup><\/a> for it does not depend on human desire or exertion but on You who shows mercy, for You have consigned all to disobedience (\u1f00\u03c0\u03b5\u1f77\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd, a form of \u1f00\u03c0\u03b5\u03af\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1<\/a>) so that You may show mercy to all.\u201d[27]<\/sup><\/a><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If He can save an accomplished sinner such as I am, I see no reason or excuse why He can\u2019t or shouldn\u2019t save a sinner like you.<\/p>\n

\n
Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 7<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Everyone Fathered by God Does Not Sin<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Who Am I? Part 5<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Conclusion<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 89<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Who Am I? Part 8<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Atonement, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to My Deeds, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Justice and Mercy Revisited, Part 5<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Joshua 7:1b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Joshua 7:2a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> Joshua 7:3b-5a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> Deuteronomy 2:25a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> Joshua 6:21a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> Joshua 6:16-19 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> Joshua 7:15 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> Joshua 7:24 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> Joshua 7:21a (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[10]<\/sup> Joshua 6:21a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[11]<\/sup> What\u2019s All This Talk of \u2018Purgatorial Purification\u2019? Part 2<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[12]<\/sup> 1 John 5:18a (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[13]<\/sup> It\u2019s been a long time since I took Logic 101 so I checked again online that modus tollens<\/em> is valid and found a reasonable exception<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>[14]<\/sup> What\u2019s All This Talk of \u2018Purgatorial Purification\u2019? Part 2<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[15]<\/sup> 1 Corinthians 3:15 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[16]<\/sup> Luke 12:20, 21 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[17]<\/sup> 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[18]<\/sup> Matthew 6:33 (NIV)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[19]<\/sup> Matthew 5:6 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[20]<\/sup> King Sihon was hardened<\/a> for this purpose<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>[21]<\/sup> Exodus 14:31 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[22]<\/sup> Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[23]<\/sup> Romans 8:14 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[24]<\/sup> Luke 18:1-8 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[25]<\/sup> Matthew 6:9-14 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[26]<\/sup> Romans 9:14-16 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[27]<\/sup> Romans 11:28-36 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, stole some of the riches [of Jericho which had been devoted to yeh\u00f4v\u00e2h]. \u00a0The Lord (yeh\u00f4v\u00e2h,\u00a0\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) was furious (ch\u00e2r\u00e2h, \u05d5\u05d9\u05d7\u05e8; Septuagint: \u1f10\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u1f7d\u03b8\u03b7, a form of … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3604,2719,1240],"tags":[3768,25,3770,3705,1730,415,3758,3760,463,464,3761,3765,3764,3762,3763,3769,3766,2095,2513,3767,1136],"class_list":["post-7778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deuteronomy-the-fear-of-the-lord","category-section-three","category-the-fear-of-the-lord","tag-1-corinthians-315","tag-1-john-518","tag-1-timothy-617-19","tag-deuteronomy-225","tag-exodus-1431","tag-galatians-522-23","tag-joshua-621","tag-joshua-71","tag-joshua-710-12","tag-joshua-715","tag-joshua-72","tag-joshua-721","tag-joshua-724","tag-joshua-73-5","tag-joshua-75-9","tag-luke-1220-21","tag-matthew-1832-35","tag-matthew-56","tag-matthew-633","tag-romans-713-20","tag-romans-814"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7778"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29747,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7778\/revisions\/29747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}