Dangerous Decisions

HP093 Lot & Achan.pp 5/18/09 2:10 PM Page 1

DANGEROUS
DECISIONS
Learning From
The Mistakes Of
Lot & Achan

O
ne of the great
discoveries of life is to
see how often we can
CONTENTS do things we will never regret.
Think about what would
Defining Moments . . . . . 2 happen if a group of us got
The Tragic Tale Of together and spent a day talking
An Empty Lot . . . . . . . . . 3 about the best decisions we ever
Achan’s made—and the worst.
Fatal Attraction . . . . . . . 16 Such a conversation would
Our Greatest Need . . . 31 not be far from stories of the
Bible that show men and women
at the crossroads of their lives.
Those are the kinds of
decisions Dan Schaeffer helps
us to think through in this
excerpt of his book Defining
Moments: When Choices
Matter Most. Mart De Haan

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo & Design:Terry Bidgood
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard
Bible®. Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission.
This booklet is based on a portion of Defining Moments:When Choices Matter Most by Dan
Schaeffer, published by Discovery House Publishers, a member of the RBC Ministries family.
© 2009 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA


DEFINING testing ground for the
MOMENTS heroic is the mundane.
The only preparation for

O
ne morning you that one profound decision
wake up, totally which can change a life,
unaware that today or even a nation, is those
you will make a decision hundreds of half-conscious,
that will define your self-defining, seemingly
life for years to come, insignificant decisions made
perhaps forever. If you in private. Habit is the daily
had known this moment battleground of character”
was approaching, you (Reader’s Digest, June 1996).
would have prepared Our character is the
for it. But you didn’t. scene of great battles.
Each of us will In the last analysis, it will
experience moments nudge us in one direction
that are far more important or another. Fortunately, we
than all the others. In these can learn from those who
moments we will say or do have gone before us. The
something because such Bible is full of defining
behavior has become moments, both good and
second nature to us. But bad. Real people in real-life
the consequences will be situations, just like us.
drastically different. From their examples we can
Senator Dan Coates learn how to prepare for our
said, “Character cannot own defining moments.
be summoned at the Are you ready? In the
moment of crisis if it following pages you will
has been squandered by meet two people from the
years of compromise and Bible who weren’t ready for
rationalization. The only their defining moment. And
2
© 2009 RBC Ministries


you will see the terrible creature; either into a
tragedy that ensued. (For creature that is in harmony
examples of people who with God, and with other
were ready and made good creatures, and with itself,
choices, see the book from or else into one that is in a
which this excerpt was state of war and hatred with
derived.) God, and with its fellow-
Most of us embrace wise creatures, and with itself.”
principles for living as well
as habits that are unwise. THE TRAGIC
These two are in constant
conflict within us, each
TALE OF AN
vying for privileged status. EMPTY LOT

T
In that pivotal moment, we here’s a winding
will choose between the mountain road leading
two, and our lot will be up to the High Sierra
irretrievably cast. Mountains on the way to
In Mere Christianity Yosemite National Park.
C. S. Lewis wrote, “Every The road passes through
time you make a choice, you several small towns and an
are turning the central part occasional home or small
of you, the part of you that business. I recall that when
chooses, into something a I first started making that
little different from what it drive, I saw a large steak
was before. And taking your house that had closed
life as a whole, with all your recently. “For Sale” signs
innumerable choices, all were everywhere, along
your life long you are slowly with the name of the
turning this central thing restaurant. The building
either into a heavenly was still in good repair,
creature or into a hellish nicely painted, and
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pleasant to look at. I look at the true-life story of
wondered what restaurant a real empty Lot. His story
would be there the next is found in Genesis 13, 14,
time I came through. and 19. Lot was the nephew
It has been 16 years, of Abram, whom the Lord
and that building is still later called Abraham, the
empty. The paint is old father of the Jewish race.
and faded, the windows In those chapters we
boarded up, the parking read about Lot’s defining
lot overgrown with weeds. decision—the decision
When this restaurant that mirrored his whole life
first opened, it must have and set the tone for the
bustled with activity: plates, rest of it.
silverware, and glasses Both Abram and Lot
clinking; wait-staff scurrying were wealthy men who
to get food; music playing; resided in a foreign country.
people talking, laughing, It was a land that belonged
and socializing. I’ve often to the Canaanites and the
wondered what caused it Perizzites. The area where
to close its doors. Abram and Lot were living
This restaurant had been could no longer support
someone’s dream. But now two great herds of animals.
the dream has died. The With no fences or borders
building stands vacant and to determine where one’s
lonely. No one goes there grazing rights began and
except for the occasional another’s ended, the
vagrant looking for shelter. herdsmen of the two
It’s a sad picture. It’s also relatives began to fight.
the tragic story of many So Abram stepped in and
people’s lives. made a wise decision.
In this section, we will There was enough room
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for both of them if they him to be, in several ways,
went in different directions. an empty Lot.
Abram was the patriarch Lot’s life can teach
of the two, and the one to us four dangers to beware
whom God had promised of when making defining-
all this land (Gen. 12:6-7). moment decisions—four
As the proper recipient of dangers that will keep you
the entire region, Abram from becoming an empty
could have chosen the land Lot yourself. The first
he wanted and left the rest danger is:
to Lot. But Abram showed The Danger Of
his godliness by trusting Deceiving Yourself.
God to keep His promise in From Lot’s tragic life we
His own way. He graciously learn that there are no
allowed Lot to choose harmless character flaws.
which land he wanted. When we read Genesis
Humanly speaking, it 13:10-13, it’s clear that self-
wasn’t a hard decision for interest and greed drove
Lot. The Jordan Valley was Lot’s decision. Although
a lush green place, and Abram could rightfully
Sodom and Gomorrah have chosen where he
were beautiful and would live, he humbled
desirable places to live. himself and allowed Lot
Lot didn’t think twice. He to choose. Furthermore,
saw the fertile land of the Abram initiated the
plains and chose it. solution to the problem.
While this decision Significantly, the Bible
seemed shrewd for Lot, does call Lot a righteous
it turned out badly. His man. In 2 Peter 2:6-8,
shallow choice reflected his Peter reminds us that God
true character and revealed “condemned the cities of
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Sodom and Gomorrah One of Lot’s flaws was
to destruction by reducing that he struggled with greed
them to ashes, having made and selfishness. He desired
them an example to those the best of the land for
who would live ungodly himself, and he was in a
lives thereafter; and if He position to get it. Sodom
rescued righteous Lot, and Gomorrah were
oppressed by the sensual wealthy enclaves—places
conduct of unprincipled of great riches because
men (for by what he saw of the fertileness of the
and heard that righteous region. People like to
man, while living among live in beautiful places,
them, felt his righteous soul and usually only the
tormented day after day wealthiest can afford to.
with their lawless deeds).” Lot’s greed is evident
Lot was a righteous man in other passages as well.
because he believed God, When we read that God sent
expressed his faith in God, judgment upon Sodom and
and did not approve of the Gomorrah, we gain valuable
horrible sins of Sodom insight into Lot’s character.
and Gomorrah. In 2 Peter, God had determined to
however, it seems that Lot’s obliterate the towns for their
righteousness is contrasted sin and unrepentance. Yet,
not with Abram’s but with even though Lot knew this,
that of the citizens of he didn’t want to leave. God
Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s sent angels in the form of
possible to appear to be men to protect Lot from the
morally upstanding but judgment. But the men of
have one or two tragic Sodom demanded that Lot
character flaws that hand them over so they
eventually surface. could rape them. That’s
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how perverse the people of still have a defective
Sodom had become. character? Yes! Greed,
In spite of this horrible desire, envy, and jealousy
decadence, Lot still didn’t don’t go away just because
want to leave. The angels you become a Christian.
literally had to drag him and Sooner or later, God
his family out of Sodom. makes us face those
The scriptural account says, issues and brings them
“But he hesitated. So the to our attention. It cost Lot
men [angels] seized his everything he had before
hand and the hand of his God got his attention.
wife and the hands of his If not dealt with
two daughters, for the properly, a single weak
compassion of the Lord character trait can have a
was upon him; and they negative effect on the rest
brought him out, and put of our lives. In Lot’s life,
him outside the city” greed and self-interest were
(Gen. 19:16). present, even though he
Hesitated! Why? The appeared to be a morally
reason is simple. Everything upstanding individual.
Lot had attained was about The heart of the
to be destroyed—all his Christian is like a garden.
wealth, his business When we are born again,
contacts, his home, his God plants His fruit, the
job, everything but his fruit of the Spirit: love, joy,
very life. He still didn’t peace, patience, kindness,
want to give it up. goodness, faithfulness,
You may be thinking, gentleness, and self-control
“But I thought he was a (Gal. 5:22-23). But at the
righteous man?” Can a same time, Satan keeps
person be a Christian and trying to replant his
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own garden in our heart. in order to grow, but a
Character flaws are like spiritual “weed” will
weeds—they grow fastest flourish with inattention.
when they are ignored and What weed, or character
become increasingly difficult flaw, are you ignoring? If
to pull out. We need to deal you ignore it long enough,
with such weeds when they one day that flaw will grow
first appear, because by the so large it will be the only
time we see the plants, the thing that people can see
roots are already formed in you. All your good
and growing. qualities will be hidden
My wife Annette and I behind that one character
planted a little garden. We flaw you have ignored.
planted corn, pumpkins, You may be there right
cantaloupe, watermelon, now. Caring people may
beans, herbs, squash, and have already discussed this
sunflowers. We planted flaw with you. They have
all those on purpose; we seen how it has taken over
wanted them to grow. We your life. When you try to
watered them carefully and point out all your good
cultivated them. But weeds qualities, they can’t seem
popped up without any to see them. Your character
attention whatsoever. flaw is now so blatant that
They grew marvelously. it overshadows all your
We had to pull the weeds other good qualities. If so,
continually. We never you may be on your way to
tended the weeds; the becoming an empty Lot.
more we neglected them, Some Christians joke
the better they grew. about their character flaws.
The spiritual garden “That’s just who I am,”
we want must be tended they will tell you with a
8


grin. They seem to think The Danger Of
a character flaw is just a Altering God’s Price
personality trait. But the Tags. Genesis 13:10 tells
Bible never treats them us, “Lot lifted up his eyes
that way. and saw all the valley of
I heard of a pastor who the Jordan, that it was
was cursing in his sermons well watered everywhere—
and criticizing people he this was before the Lord
was angry with from the destroyed Sodom and
pulpit. He got into a Gomorrah—like the garden
fistfight with an elder from of the Lord, like the land of
his church at a basketball Egypt as you go to Zoar.”
game. When confronted Everything Lot could see
with this sin, his excuse with his eyes looked good.
was “Hey, that’s just me. He was smitten with the
That’s my personality. It’s great lust spoken of in
the way I am. It’s no big 1 John 2:16, “For all that is
deal.” in the world, the lust of the
He equated his activity flesh and the lust of the eyes
with a personality trait that and the boastful pride of life,
was supposedly beyond is not from the Father, but is
his control. Shyness is a from the world.”
personality trait. Being One commentator
gregarious is a personality pointed out that the
trait. But sin is sin! And Hebrew word for sin means
sins are weeds that must “to miss the mark.” He then
be pulled. Don’t deceive went on to say: “So a sinner
yourself. There are no is one who is ever aiming at
harmless character flaws. happiness and constantly
There’s also a second missing his mark; because
danger to consider: . . . he seeks for happiness
9


where it can never be The result? His righteous
found” (Adam Clark, soul was constantly
The Bethany Parallel offended, oppressed, and
Commentary: Old Testament, influenced by the sinful
p.45). Lot didn’t look lifestyle around him.
beyond what his eyes could In chapter 14, we’re told
see. He knew that Sodom that enemies captured Lot,
was an immoral town. Its and that Abram had to
reputation was well-known. rescue him. He no doubt
But it was an attractive lived a compromised
place. While Lot never lifestyle in Sodom, one that
adopted the religion of likely contributed to the low
the people of Sodom moral standards of his
and Gomorrah, nor their daughters (see Gen. 19:30-
immoral practices, he was 38). Not only did he have
smitten with their culture, to be rescued by angels, he
their “stuff.” They were a also lost his wife, his sons-
people who were looking for in-law, and his livelihood,
happiness where it couldn’t and he barely escaped with
be found, and Lot seemed his own life. Lot paid dearly
to have the same weakness. for his poor choice.
God places the price tags Recently, my wife and
in life where they belong. I struck up a conversation
He tells us what is valuable with a clerk in our local
and what is worthless. Barnes & Noble bookstore.
When God’s price tags don’t She seemed despondent
seem to make sense to us, and mentioned that her
we’re tempted to change house had recently burned
them. Lot chose Sodom down. She sadly shared
and Gomorrah, the capital how she had lost some
cities of the “good life.” 75,000 baseball cards she
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had been collecting as part scores of people who are
of a business venture. All unhappy in their jobs but
the plaques and honors she are now trapped. The things
had accumulated over the that bring them fulfillment
years were also destroyed. don’t make them enough
When I asked her if money, and they are too
anyone was hurt, she attached to their lifestyle
nonchalantly shook to make the necessary
her head no, as if the changes. Work becomes
question were ultimately a grind, and they grow
unimportant. She obviously miserable.
derived no comfort from it. I know men and women
Her stuff, which was of great who married their spouses
value to her, was destroyed primarily for their looks.
in much the same way that This is what they valued
Lot’s things were—by fire. most in a mate. But now—
Bible commentator F. B. 5, 10, 15 years later—the
Meyer wrote, “The world luster has worn off.
is full of Lots—shallow, They wish they had
impulsive, doomed to be married someone more
revealed by their choice.” understanding, thoughtful,
Have you exchanged and considerate—qualities
price tags in your life? their spouses lack, which
The things we value now cause them such pain.
become the basis for All around them they see
our most important and couples who are physically
defining decisions. If we less attractive but are
value money and prestige, fulfilled in marriage.
we will chase a job that When we value all the
brings us these things but status possessions of our
little else. We all know world—bigger, more
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expensive homes, and more The Jordan Valley was
expensive and newer cars— more beautiful than the
we can find ourselves territory Lot left to Abram.
sacrificing everything to get It was a desirable place
them. Spending beyond our to live. Think of the Napa
means, we end up in debt Valley in California, or
and unable to enjoy the the South of France,
very possessions we have where vines and orchards
sacrificed so much to have. grow abundantly and the
In these and many other countryside is picturesque.
decisions like them, we can Second, there was
find that our choices reveal wealth. Ample water and
who we really are. pasture meant additional
What do your choices grazing areas and increased
reveal about what you flocks. More flocks meant
value? We see this thought more wealth, because in the
developed more fully in the ancient East, livestock had
third danger: value, not currency.
The Danger Of Third, Lot saw ease.
Long-term Decisions It would be much easier
Based On Temporary to make a living in Sodom
Attractions. Lot’s and Gomorrah than where
decision was based on Abram was going. When
what he saw, what appealed the water is there, and the
to him through his physical grass is in abundance, and
senses. What did Lot see the fruit trees are already
when he looked at the planted, you simply don’t
beautiful Jordan Valley and have to work as hard.
Sodom and Gomorrah? He Caring for the animals
saw three things: beauty, is much easier.
wealth, and ease. Beauty, wealth, and
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ease. Lot, like so many of woman named Della
us, was sure that the things Britteon through a dating
he now found so attractive service. He saw a young,
would always be that way. quiet, eye-catching woman,
People are sure their looks and evidently thought she
and youth will last, their job would be everything his
will be secure, their talent previous wife had not been.
will always be in demand. He married her only
So what happened? 4 months after his divorce.
Let’s start with the beauty What he didn’t know,
of Sodom and Gomorrah. however, was that Della
It was utterly destroyed had been previously
by a volcanic-like eruption, married three times
never to be anything but and was not at all what
a desolate plain. And she seemed. She was
Lot’s great wealth? His dangerous! Each of her
flocks were destroyed, his former husbands had
business and his customers been lucky to escape their
were gone, and he barely marriage with their lives.
escaped with his life. And Della was vicious and
what about the ease of his mean, and when rejected,
life? With his livelihood and she acted violently. Less
his home removed, Lot was than a year after marrying
destined to live in a cave. this “beauty,” Dr. Sutorius
Several years ago, there wanted a divorce. But he
was a sensational story in never got the chance. Della
the news about Della and killed him with a .38-caliber
Darryl Sutorius. Darryl was revolver she had bought
a heart surgeon who had only 2 days earlier.
divorced his wife of 30 Are you making long-
years and met a striking term decisions based on
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temporary attractions? That glance. It was a long look of
is one of the quickest ways desire, a reluctance to leave
to become an empty Lot. her home and possessions.
Finally we come to the last She, like her husband,
and greatest danger: was hesitating, lingering,
The Danger because she didn’t really
Of Assuming Your want to go. God had sent
Decisions Won’t Affect angels to save them from
Others. We infuse those destruction, and she didn’t
around us with our values, want to leave Sodom. She
especially those closest to had a severe case of the
us. Let’s follow the results same greed that Lot had.
of Lot’s decision on his Lot’s sons-in-law didn’t
family. When they were take his warnings seriously
escaping Sodom and and were destroyed. But
Gomorrah’s judgment, what of his daughters?
the angels warned them When Sodom and
in Genesis 19:17, “Escape Gomorrah were annihilated,
for your life! Do not look Lot took his daughters and
behind you, and do not hid in a cave with them.
stay anywhere in the valley; His daughters decided they
escape to the mountains, wanted to have children, so
or you will be swept away.” they got their father drunk
But what happened to Lot’s and slept with him (Gen.
wife? Genesis 19:26 says, 19:30-38). These incestuous
“But his wife, from behind acts resulted in the Moabites
him, looked back, and she and the Ammonites, two
became a pillar of salt.” tribes who were a perpetual
Don’t misunderstand. The thorn in the side of
Hebrew word suggests this Abraham’s descendants.
was not a casual backward This story shocks our
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sensibilities. Where call from an 11-year-old
was their faith in God’s boy that rendered her
provision? Where did speechless. He told her he
Lot’s daughters learn to had a problem. He liked a
debase themselves with certain girl at school, but
such horribly immoral another one was “making
decisions? Think about this: eyes” at him and letting him
How much time had Lot’s know she liked him. Should
daughters spent in the city he drop his present girlfriend
Daddy picked to be their to chase the new one?
home? With whom had they Dr. Laura asked the
grown up, and from whom boy, “Well, how would
had they been learning? you feel if your daddy
Who was influencing them went off with some new
day after day, night after lady every time one showed
night? What lifestyle was interest?” “He did,” was his
their culture bombarding matter-of-fact reply. Since
them with continually? no loyalty and fidelity was
How are our decisions modeled at home, what
affecting our loved ones? could Dr. Laura say?
Lot’s faith in God remained, Our values will affect—
but his decisions had or infect—those we love.
destroyed everything he A very enlightening project
valued because he had might be to poll your
invested his life in things spouse, children, and close
of no value. friends, and ask them to
Dr. Laura Schlessinger, share what they feel you
a radio talk-show host, value most in life from
related how she was once what they see in your life.
at a loss for words during Warning: This is not a
her call-in show. It was a project for the faint of heart.
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If you heed this advice, related to it, and ask
your defining moment can God continually for
be a wonderful one, a His power to overcome
moment that will positively it. Don’t expect immediate
affect your family and changes. Actions are the
everyone else. Give your result of our heart’s
own story a happy ending! desires—and the heart
Don’t become an empty Lot. changes slowly. But start
now, and don’t stop!
Personal Reflection
We all have character flaws,
but it’s tempting to justify ACHAN’S FATAL
them or joke about them, ATTRACTION

T
instead of dealing with here’s a sport that a
them. The longer we wait few daring souls have
to deal with these flaws, the begun to embrace
worse they become and the called BASE, or extreme
closer we are to becoming jumping. Its name is
an empty Lot. Will your derived from the acronym
most defining moment for buildings, antennas,
be a result of an ignored spans, and earth. Instead
character flaw? What might of jumping out of a plane
you do to prevent it? Now and parachuting, these folks
go do it—while there’s time! jump off tall buildings, high
antennas, bridges, and
Follow-through cliffs—tempting fate and
Write down what you danger for the thrill of it.
believe to be your greatest Because of its inherent
character flaw. Determine danger, it’s banned in
to make it a daily matter of most places.
prayer. Look up Scriptures Jan Davis was one of
16


five BASE jumpers prepared Like Jan Davis, each
to challenge one such ban one of us has our own fatal
in Yosemite National Park. attraction. While we may
The group had climbed to not consider ours nearly
the 3,200-foot peak of so dangerous, our fatal
Yosemite’s El Capitan. attractions can ruin our
Their jump was going to reputation, marriage, career,
be a public protest to friendships, and dreams.
demonstrate that the jumps Perhaps there’s no more
could be made safely. vivid example in the Bible
Davis was 60 years old of this danger than Achan.
and a veteran of countless Achan’s story is found
jumps made over 16 years. in Joshua 6. Israel had
She was the fourth of crossed the Jordan River
five jumpers, and used and marched around
borrowed gear because Jericho for 7 days as God
she didn’t want hers to had commanded them. The
be confiscated by rangers story is familiar. Perhaps
waiting to arrest her on the not quite as familiar are
valley floor. As her friends God’s specific instructions.
and family watched from Before the people were
below, she jumped, but commanded to shout,
her chute never opened. which would bring down
She fell to her death. The the walls of Jericho, they
newspaper headline of were reminded:
her death read, “Chutist The city shall be under
dies in ironic tragedy.” the ban, it and all that is
BASE-jumping is inherently in it belongs to the Lord;
dangerous. That is part of only Rahab the harlot
its allure. But for Jan Davis and all who are with her
it was a fatal attraction. in the house shall live,
17


because she hid the have been an easy
messengers whom we victory turned into an
sent. But as for you, only inglorious defeat, and 36
keep yourselves from the men of Israel were killed.
things under the ban, so Ai remained defiant and
that you do not covet unconquered. Joshua 7:16-
them and take some of 26 relates the dramatic way
the things under the ban, that God exposed Achan’s
and make the camp of sin to Israel, and his
Israel accursed and bring resulting confession.
trouble on it. But all From Achan’s example
the silver and gold and we can discern seven
articles of bronze and symptoms of a fatal
iron are holy to the Lord; attraction that may be
they shall go into the evident in our own lives.
treasury of the Lord If ignored, they could lead
(Josh. 6:17-19). to a defining moment not
Achan was there, and unlike Achan’s—terrible,
he heard the ban. But the shameful, and destructive.
temptation proved too But if we can identify them,
great for him, and he there’s great hope that we
broke it. Unfortunately can disarm the ticking time
for all of Israel, the divine bomb before it explodes in
consequence of Achan’s our lives.
sin was that God would no The first and most
longer go before them and obvious symptom is:
lead them to victory. A Fatal Attraction
Unaware of what Never Lies Dormant.
Achan had done, Israel A fatal attraction is nothing
attacked a small outpost more than a secret sin or
called Ai. What should sinful attitude or activity
18


that we have allowed to Let no one say when he
bloom. It is something we is tempted, “I am being
find ourselves drawn to tempted by God”; for God
that we know is dangerous cannot be tempted by
and sinful, yet we have evil, and He Himself does
convinced ourselves that not tempt anyone. But
it’s safe for us. Perhaps each one is tempted when
we’ve even cultivated this he is carried away and
attraction in private. enticed by his own lust.
How long had Achan Then when lust has
struggled with this problem conceived, it gives birth
of greed? This was not a to sin; and when sin is
momentary character lapse accomplished, it brings
for Achan, but the natural forth death (1:13-15).
result of a fatal attraction he How graphically this is
had nurtured. Unfortunately, revealed in Achan’s defining
it was an attraction needing moment! But beyond
only the right opportunity— James’ words there is, in
a defining moment—to Achan’s own confession,
prove his undoing. Achan’s the clear downward spiral
fatal attraction was a glaring of temptation and sin:
chink in his spiritual armor When I saw among the
that he had ignored. His spoil a beautiful mantle
desire for wealth had from Shinar and two
hideously devolved into hundred shekels of silver
greed of the first order. and a bar of gold fifty
Achan’s motivations are shekels in weight, then I
common to all of us. James coveted them and took
exposed the process of them; and behold, they
temptation in every human are concealed in the
heart when he wrote: earth inside my tent
19


with the silver underneath opportunity. At some
it (Josh. 7:21). point, Satan will be given
He saw, he coveted, permission to tempt us
he took, he concealed. again, and the opportunity
Before we leave this will be presented.
scene, it’s good to remember Each of us has a
that thousands of Hebrew sensitivity to different
soldiers saw what Achan temptations. Some of us
saw when they invaded are extremely susceptible to
Jericho, but their own greed financial temptations, others
had not degenerated to the to sexual temptations, while
level of Achan’s. others are vulnerable to
There is an enlightening temptations of fame or
equation we can derive power. As you review the
from Achan’s life: downward progression that
A FATAL ATTRACTION + led Achan to ruin, can you
OPPORTUNITY = SHAME, identify your own position
DISGRACE, AND LOSS on the continuum? I saw.
There is latent within all I coveted. I took. I hid. How
of us a fatal attraction. We close to danger are you?
can ignore it and assure Achan’s defining moment
ourselves that we have it came when he first laid
under control. Or we can eyes on the treasure he had
fear it, terrified that it may discovered, because at that
one day be our undoing. critical moment something
We often mistake the happened that even he
lack of opportunity with didn’t understand. An
self-control. But as Achan unaddressed perverted
shows, by God’s mercy passion had grown too
we may never have been strong for him to control.
exposed to the right Did it surprise even him?
20


The movie Little Shop within us. They do not
Of Horrors is the story of remain dormant. They will
a small alien flower that demand attention, and we
comes into the life of a must either deny them—
young employee at a plant sending them back into the
store. While the flower shadows—or feed them,
looks strange to him at making them stronger still.
first, he does his best to I saw. I coveted. I took.
try to keep it alive. But I hid. One unaddressed evil
despite his best efforts and passion in our lives is all it
all conventional care, it takes. Remember, a fatal
continues to die. It’s only attraction never lies
when he accidentally cuts dormant. Second:
his finger and a drop of A Fatal Attraction
blood dribbles on the plant Deafens Us To God’s
that it perks up. He is Work And Voice.
shocked to discover that A quick review of the book
it subsists on blood. of Joshua reminds us that
Each day the young man Achan had been part of two
pricks his finger and feeds tremendous miracles of God
the ravenous plant. And within a short period of
each day the strange plant time. First, he had walked
grows bigger and stronger, across the Jordan River on
demanding more and more dry ground as the water
blood. It finally grows to fill was miraculously held back
the whole shop and even in a heap. Second, he had
commits murder to fulfill its witnessed an amazing
unquenchable desire. miracle when the walls
This is an apt picture of Jericho came tumbling
of what happens to down.
unaddressed passions Just before this miracle,
21


Joshua had told everyone When we embrace a sinful
not to touch anything that passion and allow it to grow
was under the ban. So strong in our lives, one of
Achan knew exactly what its first debilitating attacks
he was doing when he took is on our spiritual focus.
the loot. He showed no To reach any goal—
concern that God was even an evil one—takes
active in Israel, ignoring concentration and focus.
the miracles performed We work, think, and
right before his eyes. strategize to reach what
Additionally, Joshua 5 we want most. When that
indicates that Achan must happens, we lose sight of
have been one of the men everything else. It’s
who had been circumcised. inevitable.
Circumcision was a sign Achan’s greed was all
of the Hebrews’ covenant he focused on in the end.
relationship with God. He had stopped listening to
Had Achan forgotten the God and appreciating His
implications of this so mighty works because all
soon? How can a man his senses were trained
witness such miracles on one thing—greed. An
of God and then let his unaddressed passion will
greed run amok? Didn’t slowly but surely deaden
he believe God would see us to God’s work and His
what he was doing? Word in our life. We will
Achan’s story highlights begin to tune out God’s
the devastating effect of an voice because it will present
unaddressed sinful passion. an unwanted obstacle to
Our desire to listen to God’s our sin. And we don’t want
Word wanes. We lose our our sin challenged; we want
appreciation for His works. it fulfilled.
22


This is why Paul warned of behavior. A slow
the young pastor Timothy, exchange of passions,
“The love of money is a developed over time, causes
root of all sorts of evil, people to lose interest in
and some by longing for God’s work and voice. It
it have wandered away often happens slowly, so
from the faith and pierced confident of their spiritual
themselves with many convictions that they fail to
griefs” (1 Tim. 6:10). We address the danger properly.
can insert any number of Gradually they become
passions in that verse and oblivious to the danger. And
the result would be the then, in what appears to be
same. The love of power, just a moment, they fall.
fame, and lust are also One evening I was
roots of all sorts of evil. watching a documentary
As Paul noted, some of about strange creatures.
us wander away from the The episode dealt with a
faith. It’s a slow defection predatory fish that had
rather than an abrupt the extraordinary ability
departure. We don’t just to burrow into the ocean
turn our backs on God floor, becoming completely
one day; it takes time for a camouflaged. While this
sinful desire to develop the odd fish was too slow to
level of intensity that will catch the smaller fish on
cause us to ignore the which its diet depended,
scriptural wisdom we’ve God had given it a long
adhered to for years. worm-shaped appendage
After years of counseling on the top of its head that
people who have been could wiggle freely. When
caught in various sins, I the fish lay on the ocean
have noticed a clear pattern floor wiggling that
23


appendage, it looked just which I commanded them.
like a real worm dancing And they have even taken
about. The unsuspecting some of the things under the
prey would swim by, ban and have both stolen
become tantalized by the and deceived. Moreover,
wormlike appendage, and they have also put them
prepare to devour it. But in among their own things”
a split second, the predator (Josh. 7:11). How frequently
would rise up and swallow do we traffic in one sin, and
the smaller fish. soon begin to “change
Nature reminds us that lanes” to avoid detection.
this kind of thing happens When we embrace one sin,
every day. The Bible it becomes necessary to
reminds us that it happens resort to another. Not only
to people as well. Like the did Achan steal, but he had
little fish being tantalized to deceive everyone into
by the wormlike appendage, thinking he hadn’t.
we become oblivious to the “Sins are like circles
danger because we have in the water when a stone
stopped listening to God’s is thrown into it; one
warnings. But the danger produces another,” wrote
doesn’t end there. A third Phillip Henry. “When anger
symptom is that: was in Cain’s heart, murder
A Fatal Attraction was not far off.”
Stimulates The Growth When someone becomes
Of Other Sins Within involved in scandal, drugs,
Us. Listen to God’s alcohol, or any kind of
assessment of Achan’s immoral activity, how often
activity. “Israel has does lying and deception
sinned, and they have also enter the picture? Deception
transgressed My covenant becomes necessary to hide
24


the first sin already and self-preservation had
committed. For example, been cultivated in his life, to
when President Clinton was the exclusion of compassion
accused of immorality with and conscience.
Monica Lewinsky, what was The great aircraft carriers
his immediate reaction? He of World War II were vital
lied to try to cover up his war weapons. They were
sin. But before we throw always escorted by other
too many stones, is he so ships to protect them. In
different from the rest of us? the same way, our fatal
Who among us has not lied attraction requires other
to cover up another sin? Did sinful “escorts” to keep
not King David try to cover itself safe.
up his sin with Bathsheba? We must not deceive
One fatal attraction ourselves. One nurtured
stimulates the growth sin waters other seeds of
of other sins within us. sin that have fallen into
Did Achan exhibit any the fertile ground of our
concern for the 36 men who wavering faith, and they
died? (Josh. 7:5). Did he will quickly bloom. The
care for their families, or for idea that we can isolate
his responsibility in their a particular sin in our
deaths? The answer must lives and restrain it from
be no, because the lot spreading elsewhere is a
would have taken quite myth. The weeds of sin will
some time to fall to him, always spread. Fourth:
and he had ample time A Fatal Attraction
to come clean (vv.14-18). Blinds Us To
So why didn’t he care? Encroaching Danger.
He didn’t care because the Achan’s response to the
seeds of self-centeredness process of the lot in Joshua
25


7:14-18 is a fascinating Israel in every way, but
study in human nature. Achan’s sinful passion
Achan clearly understood blinded him to it. It’s
how the lot worked, but at conceivable that he simply
each draw of the lot, as it didn’t believe he would get
drew nearer and nearer caught. If he had an inkling
him, he adamantly refused he might, he was too greedy
to confess. Achan never to risk losing his treasure
came forward, which leads unless he was forced to.
me to believe he didn’t Remember that he now
think he was actually going had in his possession the
to be caught. This shouldn’t thing he wanted most in
surprise us. He had already life, the thing he had risked
demonstrated that he was everything to get. Maybe he
deaf to God’s work and even hoped the lot would
voice. implicate someone else.
The Hebrews used the A fatal attraction blinds
lot to determine God’s will. us to encroaching danger.
The lot may have been Achan obviously had the
stones marked with either will to sin; he lacked only
black or white paint, or as the opportunity. But it’s
others have suggested, they doubtful he recognized
may have been pieces of his own weakness, for
marked pottery. Why the that would require
lot? Because “the lot is cast wisdom. Achan had
into the lap, but its every sacrificed wisdom on the
decision is from the Lord” altar of greed years earlier.
(Prov. 16:33). The Illinois Department
There were mountains of Natural Resources
of evidence that God was reports that more than
carefully watching over 17,000 deer die each year
26


after being struck by covenant with God. They
motorists. According to the had willingly agreed to be
state wildlife director, the His people, to be faithful
peak season for road kills is and obedient to Him. It was
in late fall. Why? Because a unique arrangement. God
in November, the bucks are looked at them as part of a
in rut. He tells us, “They’re unit. Each one’s sin affected
concentrating almost the whole. They had
exclusively on reproductive entered this agreement
activities, and are a lot less willingly and freely, and
wary than they normally God had taken it seriously.
would be.” Those words are When we read that his
so instructive: “a lot less family was killed with him,
wary than they normally we are further prompted to
would be.” shout, “No fair!” The law
But we are not islands. said, after all, “Fathers shall
And the activities we not be put to death for their
become involved in, for sons, nor shall sons be put
good or evil, start ripples to death for their fathers;
that touch all those around everyone shall be put to
us. Tragically, our fatal death for his own sin” (Dt.
attraction will not affect 24:16). Since this was part
only us. Fifth: of the law, which Joshua
A Fatal Attraction knew thoroughly, it seems
Infects And Destroys to indicate that Achan’s
Those Nearest Us. We family was complicit in
sense a twinge of injustice his scheme.
when we see all Israel It would have been
punished for one man’s difficult for Achan to dig
sin, but we must remember a hole in his tent, deposit
that they had all entered a several large objects, and
27


then cover them up armies who would gain
without his family courage from Ai’s victory
knowing. Apparently, they over Israel. God’s protection
were part of the conspiracy had been removed from
to remain silent. Here we them. An entire nation was
see another tragic outcome now in great danger. Why?
of refusing to address a Because one man refused to
fatal attraction—it infects address a sinful passion in
those around us. his life. It destroyed not
The values of parents are only his own life and
learned by their children. family, but also 36 others.
Achan’s newfound wealth When we lose control
couldn’t help but make life of our lives, our friends and
better for everyone involved, loved ones are often injured
could it? Is it possible to in the crash. Achan was not
believe that Achan’s greed the last person to lose far
was not noticed by his more than gold when his
family? His own covetous life careened madly out
passions were being of control. Far more than
conveyed daily to his just our own family and
own children. reputation are at stake.
Before we dismiss Sixth, we also know that:
the offense as petty theft, A Fatal Attraction
remember that as a result of Shames God And His
Achan’s sin, as many as 36 People. God’s assessment
daddies didn’t come home of the situation was clear
and 36 families lost sons, and unequivocal: “He has
fathers, and husbands. committed a disgraceful
An entire army was thing in Israel” (Josh. 7:15).
demoralized and in danger Not only was Israel
of being attacked by other disgraced by Achan’s
28


action, God was shamed by As we approach our
it as well. Achan never even own defining moments, we
considered the shame his need to ask ourselves an
action would bring. Perhaps important question. Is there
this is the most tragic of all something in our life that, if
the characteristics of Achan not addressed and brought
and all those who are in the to light, could bring shame
grip of a fatal attraction—he to our family, our church,
didn’t care. His sinful desire and our God? There may
was far more important to be an even more important
him than God’s reputation. question: Does the thought
Years ago, one of the that our life could shame
large churches in our area God and His church even
was rocked by a public bother us very much? If it
scandal. A former president doesn’t, we may be further
of a large parachurch along in our fatal attraction
organization, who was an than we think.
elder in the church and a The seventh and most
Sunday school teacher, was serious of all the symptoms
accused of molesting young of a fatal attraction is:
girls at his home. The A Fatal Attraction
disgrace was intense. Steals From God
What is worse is that What Belongs To
this same man had been Him. Achan never saw the
accused of similar activity seriousness of the sin he
20 years earlier, but nothing was harboring in his heart,
had been done about it. but Joshua did. Remember
His fatal attraction had God’s instructions? “The
remained buried until it city shall be under the
finally bloomed and could ban, it and all that is in it
no longer be hidden. belongs to the Lord” (Josh.
29


6:17). Now look again at relationships, talents,
Joshua 7:23. “They took family, position, and
them from inside the tent finances—but they are His.
and brought them to Joshua When we court any sinful
and to all the sons of Israel, passion within us, we are
and they poured them out secretly conspiring to take
before the Lord.” Why did more than God has allotted
they pour Achan’s treasures to us. To conspire to take
out before the Lord? what God has not given
Because they were not is to steal from Him.
Achan’s, or Israel’s, or Could a fatal attraction
Joshua’s—they were God’s! in your life be a plan to
Every one of us, steal from God? It’s difficult
regardless of whether we in our consumer-conscious,
consider ourselves poor or materialistic society to
rich, will want something believe that God may not
we don’t or can’t have. The want us to have what
Bible reminds us that this someone else has, but it’s
is an essential part of our true. If we can accept this
fallen nature. “Sheol truth, it can be one of the
and Abaddon are never most freeing things we’ve
satisfied, nor are the ever learned—relieving us
eyes of man ever satisfied” of the drive to accumulate
(Prov. 27:20). We may want and compare with everyone
someone else’s popularity, else. If we can’t accept this
income, possessions, truth, it may be the last
spouse, reputation, job, warning we are given.
authority, girlfriend, or A secret sin, a fatal
boyfriend. God, from His attraction, can be the
heavenly treasury, gives to determinative factor in
each of us precious gifts of a tragic defining-moment
30


decision—unless we bomb or waiting for the
realize it and address explosion. Which is it?
it beforehand.
I saw. I coveted. I took. Follow-through
I hid. This was a defining Confess to God your secret
moment tragically caught fatal attraction and your
on divine film for eternity. feelings of powerlessness to
Will we address our own overcome it. Be honest. Ask
fatal attraction before it’s Him to strengthen you to
too late? Achan let the resist this temptation and to
process go too far. We can send His servants to you to
still stop it. We must—and help you overcome it before
the sooner the better. May it’s too late. Actively seek
our legacy read: I saw. out a pastor, or a wise and
I was tempted. I resisted. godly mentor or counselor,
I escaped. to help you defuse your
bomb before it explodes.
Personal Reflection
Is there an attraction in
your life that is growing OUR GREATEST
so strong that, if given the NEED

T
right opportunity, you might he most defining
indulge it? Ask yourself how moment in anyone’s
this decision would affect life is the decision
your loved ones and the to surrender to God by
reputation of Jesus Christ. accepting Christ as personal
A fatal attraction is a Savior. God’s Word, the
ticking time bomb that Bible, tells us that our
must be defused, or it will greatest need is not simply
eventually explode. You are guidance in life; it’s a
either actively defusing the relationship with God. We
31


can have this relationship Him. If you do that, you will
through Jesus Christ alone, become a child of the living
resulting in peace with our God and an heir of eternal
heavenly Father and the gift life. As a suggestion, pray
of eternal life with Him. something like this:
Lord, I believe that
Jesus is the Son of God.
The Bible tells I believe that He came
us that our and died to pay the
penalty for the sins I
greatest need have committed. I ask
is not simply You to forgive me, and to
guidance in life, give me the gift of eternal
life You promised. Come
it’s a relationship into my life, and cause
with God. me to be born again.
Amen.

If you’ve never taken this h
This booklet is excerpted from
step of faith, remember that Defining Moments: When Choices
Matter Most by Dan Schaeffer, which
faith is not something you is published by Discovery House
wait for like a letter in the Publishers, a member of the RBC
mail. Rather, faith is Ministries family. Dan is the pastor
of Shoreline Community Church in
something you step out on, Santa Barbara, California. He is also
like a bridge over a raging an award-winning writer whose
river. Jesus Christ paid the articles have appeared in Reader’s
Digest and A Third Serving of Chicken
penalty for our sins by dying Soup for the Soul.
on the cross. After 3 days, Dan has also written other books
He rose from the dead and for DHP, including In Search of the
Real Spirit of Christmas,When Faith and
is now preparing a place for Decisions Collide, and A Better Country:
those who put their faith in Preparing for Heaven.
32

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