Danger in the Plunder
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.
Joshua 6:18 (NIV)
Before Jericho's fall, Joshua warned: keep away from devoted things, take none. Gratitude guarding against greed. Future victories depend on present purity. Devoted plunder is a trap shining like gold. Hands touching the forbidden bring trouble on the whole camp.
Otherwise you will bring trouble on Israel: individual sin, collective consequence. Achan would prove it painfully at the next battle. True gratitude shields community from private appetite. One hidden Babylonian robe defeats armies. Collective holiness begins in individual, secret renunciation.
Keep away: distance is strategy, never cowardice. Joshua ordered not even approaching. Wise gratitude avoids temptation's shop windows. Whoever plays with devoted things embraces curses. Fleeing is veteran in holy war; Joseph fled, David fled, Jesus withdrew. Feet fleeing win battles hands would lose.
Today, identify your devoted plunders: sites, objects, relationships, deals. Stay away, delete, return, renounce. Thank God for coming victory and shield it with purity. Jerichos fall to clean armies; Ais resist contaminated camps. Choose purity and harvest walls.
And keep distance: pure gratitudes topple walls. Keep distance today. Purity topples walls. Flee plunder. Walls fall. Flee and win. Walls fall fast. Stay clean always. Guarded camps conquer. Purity wins.