Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Da sa Josva til Akan: «Min sønn! Bekjenn for Herren hva du har gjort! Si meg nå hva du har gjort, og ikke skjul det for meg! Gi Herren, Israels Gud ære ved å si sannheten!» Da svarte Akan: «Det er sant, det er jeg som har syndet mot Herren, Israels Gud. Dette er det jeg har gjort: Da jeg så en vakker babylonsk klesdrakt blant byttet, sammen med to kilo sølv og en gullbarre som veide 500 gram, fikk jeg lyst på det, og derfor tok jeg det. Det ligger skjult i jorden midt under teltet mitt, med sølvet nederst.» Så sendte Josva noen utsendinger av sted. De sprang til teltet og fant det som var gjemt under Akans telt, med sølvet nederst. De tok alt dette med til Josva, og framfor Israels folk la de alt sammen ned foran Herren.
What Does This Mean?
Joshua is speaking to Achan, asking him to give glory to God and confess his sins. Joshua wants Achan to tell the truth about what he has done and not hide anything from him.
Explained for Children
Imagine you took a cookie without asking and felt bad. Joshua is like a parent asking Achan to tell the truth to God and him, so he can fix what he did wrong.
Historical Background
The Book of Joshua was written by Joshua, a leader of the Israelites, around 1400-1350 BC. This verse is part of the story of Achan's sin and the consequences of taking forbidden things from Jericho. The audience includes the Israelites entering the Promised Land.
Living It Out Today
When you make a mistake, like lying about chores, admitting it to your parents and to God shows honesty and helps you make things right. It's better to confess than to hide your actions.
Joshua asks Achan to confess so that Achan can admit his wrongdoing and seek forgiveness from God, acknowledging his sin and the consequences of his actions.
What does giving glory to God mean in this context?
Giving glory to God means acknowledging God's supremacy and confessing one's sins to Him, recognizing that one's actions affect the entire community and God's plan.
How can we apply the lesson of this verse to our daily lives?
We can apply this lesson by being honest about our mistakes and confessing our sins to God and those we've wronged, seeking to make things right and receive forgiveness.
What are the consequences of not confessing one's sins?
The consequences of not confessing can include guilt, further sin, and lack of forgiveness, leading to a cycle of wrong actions and missing the opportunity for grace and reconciliation.