God had brought His people out of slavery, cared for them forty years in the desert, and now was bringing them in to their inheritance – the land He had promised long ago to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He had given them victory over Jericho; Ai was next. Because there were few men in Ai, only two or three thousand soldiers were needed for this battle.

Confidently, they went up and attacked. However, this time they were defeated. Joshua sought the Lord to know why this terrible defeat had happened. God’s answer was that someone had disobeyed His command that everything in Jericho was to be destroyed. Someone had taken something for himself, and by this act of disobedience had caused the people to be unable to withstand the enemy.

When it was determined that Achan was the guilty one, he confessed that he had kept for himself clothing, silver, and gold. God had commanded that everything be offered up to Him as a sacrifice, but Achan had not wanted to wait for God’s permission to keep plunder for himself. He had wanted it – right now. As a result, his entire family suffered.

Sometimes we forget that our actions affect others. Nothing we ever do is without results, whether good or bad.

After Achan, his family, and all his possessions were destroyed (at God’s command), the people were again told to go up against Ai. God said to them, Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, this time you will overcome the enemy. And this time you may keep all the livestock, all the clothing, all the silver and gold for yourselves.

Why did God allow them to keep the plunder for themselves this time, when He wouldn’t let them keep the plunder from Jericho?  Did God change His mind? Did He decide that He had been selfish to want everything from Jericho given over to Him? No, God is a loving, giving God. He generously gives to us everything that we need (see Titus 3:6, James 1:5). But to receive His blessings, we must do two things.

First, we must walk in obedience to His revealed will. God will not reward deliberate disobedience. Second, God wants our first fruits, and Jericho was Israel’s first fruits. This is why God required that the firstborn of all their flocks and herds be given to Him. Proverbs 3:9 tells us that if we will give the Lord the first fruits of all that we have, He will bless us with overflowing blessings.

Why is this? Does God need our best, our first fruits? No. Well then, why does He want us to give Him what we so often want to keep? Because God, in His loving wisdom, knows that our well-being – in every area of our lives – depends on our giving Him first place. If we want God’s blessing, we must make Him Lord of our lives. Nothing else can have that place. Not our career, not money, not influence or power, not even our loved ones. Only the Lord.

In Jeremiah 29:11, God tells us that His plans for us are good, not evil. He wants to give us peace and hope for our future. These blessings come to us when we give Him first place in our lives and are obedient. Verse 13 goes on to tell us that when we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him.

Let’s not be like Achan, whose attitude was “not Your will, God, but mine be done”.  Let’s give the Lord first place.  Let’s give Him our first fruits – our very best.  When He is Lord of our lives, and we obey Him, then God is able to give us His very best. (Reprint from July 1993)