God can purge our hearts of the sin that destroys our intimacy with Him and others.

上帝能除去我们心中的罪，让我们与祂、与人保持亲密的关系。

I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. Joshua 7:12

你们若不把当灭的物从你们中间除掉，我就不再与你们同在了。-约书亚记7章12节

A writing deadline loomed over me, while the argument I had with my husband earlier that morning swirled through my mind. I stared at the blinking cursor, fingertips resting on the keyboard. He was wrong too, Lord.

虽然交稿日迫在眉睫，我与丈夫今早的争执却仍萦绕心头。我盯着荧幕上不断闪烁的游标，手指放在键盘上，心里想着：“主啊！他也有错呀！”

When the computer screen went black, my reflection scowled. My unacknowledged wrongs were doing more than hindering the work before me. They were straining my relationship with my husband and my God.

当电脑荧幕变暗时，映照出了我愤怒的神情。我不愿承认自己的错误，这不仅阻碍我的工作，而且也影响我与丈夫、与上帝之间的关系。

I grabbed my cell phone, swallowed my pride, and asked for forgiveness. Savoring the peace of reconciliation when my spouse apologized as well, I thanked God and finished my article on time.

我放下自尊，拿起电话，请求丈夫原谅。我尝到了与人和好的平安，因丈夫也向我道歉。感谢上帝，最后我准时交稿。

The Israelites experienced the pain of personal sin and joy of restoration. Joshua warned God’s people not to enrich themselves in the battle for Jericho (Josh. 6:18), but Achan stole captured items and hid them in his tent (7:1). Only after his sin was exposed and dealt with (vv. 4–12) did the nation enjoy reconciliation with their God.

以色列百姓也曾因一人犯罪而全民受苦，但之后得享与上帝和好的喜乐。约书亚早已提醒上帝的子民，不可在耶利哥之战中私攒财物（约书亚记6章18节），但亚干却将掳获的物品藏在自己的帐篷里（7章1节）。等到他的罪行被揭露且经过处置之后（4-12节），以色列民才能与上帝恢复和好的关系。

Like Achan, we don’t always consider how “tucking sin into our tents” turns our hearts from God and impacts those around us. Acknowledging Jesus as Lord, admitting our sin, and seeking forgiveness provides the foundation for healthy and faithful relationships with God and others. By submitting to our loving Creator and Sustainer daily, we can serve Him and enjoy His presence—together.

正如亚干一样，我们也经常忽略“把罪藏在帐篷里”会使我们的心远离上帝，并连带影响身边的人。若要与上帝、与人维持健全与信任的关系，就必须尊耶稣为主、承认我们的罪，并寻求饶恕。天天顺服这位创造我们、扶持你我，满有慈爱的上帝，我们才能一起事奉祂，享受祂的同在。

Lord, please help us recognize, confess, and turn away from our sin, so that we can nurture loving relationships with You and others. 

主啊，求祢帮助我们能看清、承认并转离我们的罪，
好让我们与祢、与人之间有更亲密的关系。

Joshua 7:1-12New International Version (NIV)

Achan’s Sin

7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things[a];Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,[b] the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.

2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” 4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israeldid the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”

10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

约书亚记 7:1-12Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

以色列人败于艾城

7 以色列人在当灭的物上犯了罪，因为犹大支派中，谢拉的曾孙、撒底的孙子、迦米的儿子亚干取了当灭的物。耶和华的怒气就向以色列人发作。

2 当下，约书亚从耶利哥打发人往伯特利东边，靠近伯亚文的艾城去，吩咐他们说：“你们上去窥探那地。”他们就上去窥探艾城。 3 他们回到约书亚那里，对他说：“众民不必都上去，只要二三千人上去就能攻取艾城。不必劳累众民都去，因为那里的人少。” 4 于是民中约有三千人上那里去，竟在艾城人面前逃跑了。 5 艾城的人击杀了他们三十六人，从城门前追赶他们，直到示巴琳，在下坡杀败他们。众民的心就消化如水。 6 约书亚便撕裂衣服，他和以色列的长老把灰撒在头上，在耶和华的约柜前俯伏在地，直到晚上。 7 约书亚说：“哀哉！主耶和华啊，你为什么竟领这百姓过约旦河，将我们交在亚摩利人的手中，使我们灭亡呢？我们不如住在约旦河那边倒好！ 8 主啊，以色列人既在仇敌面前转背逃跑，我还有什么可说的呢？9 迦南人和这地一切的居民听见了，就必围困我们，将我们的名从地上除灭。那时你为你的大名要怎样行呢？”

10 耶和华吩咐约书亚说：“起来！你为何这样俯伏在地呢？ 11 以色列人犯了罪，违背了我所吩咐他们的约，取了当灭的物，又偷窃，又行诡诈，又把那当灭的放在他们的家具里。 12 因此，以色列人在仇敌面前站立不住。他们在仇敌面前转背逃跑，是因成了被咒诅的。你们若不把当灭的物从你们中间除掉，我就不再与你们同在了。

整理：于姊妹