GIVING TIME TO REPENT

After Israel is defeated by the city of Ai due to the sin of one man named Achan, God tells Joshua that “tomorrow” He is going to reveal the guilty party. Why tomorrow? Why didn’t God reveal the culprit right then? I believe God was giving Achan a chance to repent. Something tells me Achan didn't sleep well that night. All night long Achan had opportunity to walk over to Joshua's tent and confess but Achan never repented. The next day, when it comes time for the revealing, God goes through a long process of narrowing. First He identifies the tribe. Next he identifies the family of Zerah; then the family of Zabdi; then the family of Camri; and finally He identifies Achan. Why did God do it that way? I believe that through each step in the process He was giving Achan more chances to repent. That is what I love about God. He gives us opportunities to repent. In fact, Peter teaches us in the New Testament that this is the whole reason why Jesus hasn't returned yet. He made a promise over 2,000 years ago that He was going to come back and Peter says, you know why He hasn't come back yet? Because He's still giving opportunity for people who don't know Jesus to repentAfter Israel is defeated by the city of Ai due to the sin of one man named Achan, God tells Joshua that “tomorrow” He is going to reveal the guilty party. Why tomorrow? Why didn’t God reveal the culprit right then? I believe God was giving Achan a chance to repent. Something tells me Achan didn't sleep well that night. All night long Achan had opportunity to walk over to Joshua's tent and confess but Achan never repented. The next day, when it comes time for the revealing, God goes through a long process of narrowing. First He identifies the tribe. Next he identifies the family of Zerah; then the family of Zabdi; then the family of Camri; and finally He identifies Achan. Why did God do it that way? I believe that through each step in the process He was giving Achan more chances to repent. That is what I love about God. He gives us opportunities to repent. In fact, Peter teaches us in the New Testament that this is the whole reason why Jesus hasn't returned yet. He made a promise over 2,000 years ago that He was going to come back and Peter says, you know why He hasn't come back yet? Because He's still giving opportunity for people who don't know Jesus to repent.