2 Corinthians 6:17; Touch Not the Unclean Thing

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2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

After the resounding victory at Jericho, Israel sought to take Ai but was defeated. Ai was a much smaller and weaker city, yet they were defeated. What was the reason?

Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

During the conquest of Jericho, one man in Israel disobeyed God’s instruction to keep the spoil of the city which God commanded to destroy. This resulted in their defeat. They touched the unclean thing and kept it with them. Items dedicated and symbolising worship to the gods of the land. God was displeased.

Joshua 7:6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

Joshua 7:11-15 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man. And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

Joshua had to ensure that the accursed thing was destroyed before Israel can continue their conquest bringing glory to God. The accursed thing was destroyed and the LORD received them again. All praise and thanks to God to give us the victory in spiritual purity. Amen.