United we stand, united we fall..

Actually, the phrase is “United we stand, divided we fall”. But in our Christian life this phrase can be little altered to “United we stand, united we fall”. This is because our fall depends on, whom we are uniting with. If the person you are united with, fall then there’s a high chance that you will fall too.

But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. Joshua 7:1

God had commanded Israelites not to take any gold or silver when they plunder their enemies. All these things must be devoted to God and should not be taken for themselves. But a man named Achan took some of them and hid them. God’s anger burned against the whole Israelites. And they were defeated by their enemies in the next battle. Achan robbed Israelites of their victory. Because of one man’s mistake, one whole nation had to face its consequences.

Why not spare the whole nation and punish the one who sinned? Why should people suffer for the sins of the man they are united with? All these questions become more valid when you realize that our God promised Abraham to spare the whole city of sinners if He found ten righteous people among them. But we are talking about a nation fully devoted to God except for one man. Then why did God leave these people.

When the city or people in question are sinners then God needs a reason to spare them considering their unawareness. But when we are talking about God’s people who are instructed with his laws, disobeys Him, God punishes them.  Punishment is a strong word to use but when God leaves the people who are fully depended on Him then it’s nothing less than punishment for them.

Hophni and Phinehas brought disaster upon the whole house of Israel. When they carried the ark of covenant to the war with Philistines. Philistines defeated them and captured the ark. When David counts the fighting men and displeases God, the whole Israelites had to suffer. Likewise there are many individuals who defied God and made the people united with them to suffer.

Even in New Testament we can see Apostle Paul warning people not to indulge with people who can mislead us. We can even see him handing some people to satan. “Expel the wicked man from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:13). It’s very important then to know whom we are associating with and who we are uniting ourselves with. Because it will affect our spiritual battle, and we will have to face its consequences. Hence, its our duty to look and pray for the people we are bonded with.

But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “O Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Exodus 32:11 Interceding for the people we are tied with, may help us to win the favor of God and can avoid the catastrophe we were destined to. Moses interceded for the Israelites and God heard his prayer. Ezra, Nehemiah, Samuel, Daniel are those people who interceded for the people and won the favor of God, thus evading the wrath of God.

It's a difficult thing to digest that we will have to face certain defeats because of the action of one. But imagine the victory we will taste if people are united as one man determined to follow God. Then it will be like the victory, people gathered in Susa, got when Esther called them to fast. It will be a victory over Jericho wall because the united ones gave a loud shout. The power of the united ones will be like the power 120 people received on the day of Pentecost.

Hence, we should be on our guard as well as look on to the people we are united with. We are all united in the QUIVER OF GOD.