Friday: Further Thought – The Enemy Within
Daily Lesson for Friday 7th of November 2025
Read: Ellen G. White, “The Fall of Jericho,” Pages 493–498, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“The deadly sin that led to Achan’s ruin had its root in covetousness, of all sins one of the most common and the most lightly regarded. . . .
“Achan acknowledged his guilt, but when it was too late for the confession to benefit himself. He had seen the armies of Israel return from Ai defeated and disheartened; yet he did not come forward and confess his sin. He had seen Joshua and the elders of Israel bowed to the earth in grief too great for words. Had he then made confession, he would have given some proof of true penitence; but he still kept silence. He had listened to the proclamation that a great crime had been committed, and had even heard its character definitely stated. But his lips were sealed. Then came the solemn investigation. How his soul thrilled with terror as he saw his tribe pointed out, then his family and his household! But still he uttered no confession, until the finger of God was placed upon him. Then, when his sin could no longer be concealed, he admitted the truth. How often are similar confessions made. There is a vast difference between admitting facts after they have been proved and confessing sins known only to ourselves and to God. Achan would not have confessed had he not hoped by so doing to avert the consequences of his crime. But his confession only served to show that his punishment was just. There was no genuine repentance for sin, no contrition, no change of purpose, no abhorrence of evil.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Pages 496–498.
Discussion Questions
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A fictional illustration by Jeffery Hudson(1968) tells of a scientist who was unjustly accused and convicted of a major crime, and found himself sentenced to long time in a prison in the Arizona desert. His cellmate happened to be another scientist. The first scientist resolved to escape and earnestly tried to persuade his colleague to join him but his colleague refused. After careful planning the scientist made his escape alone; soon, the desert heat, the lack of food and water, and utter disorientation in the hostile wilderness almost drove him mad. He was finally compelled to return to the prison and reported his ordeal to the other scientist who, with calm surprise, said: “Yes, I know. I tried it too and failed, too, for the same reasons.” The escapee then bitterly asked, “For heaven’s sake, man, when you knew I was going to make a break for it, why didn’t you tell me what it was like out there?” His cellmate shrugged and replied, “Who publishes negative results?”
The story of Achan clearly explains how spiritual pride can lead a believer into failure. Achan had a few days ago succesfully crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land of milk and honey, a dream come true for many, but was enticed to sin (see Joshua 7). Here indeed is a clear warning: even after experiencing victory, pride and covetousness caused him to fall from grace which serves as a reminder to christians that sin doesn’t strike without warning and that pride precedes destruction (“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18). In Joshua 7:21 Achan himself confesses the progression of his sin: seeing the spoil, coveting it, taking it, hiding it, and then being discovered. That sequence shows the four dangerous stages of sin: seeing, coveting, taking, and concealing. Achan thought he was invincible and could get away with sin as the devil makes us feel that we are invulnerable because as Christians we have “arrived” spiritually, a position that can rapidly devolve into disorientation, danger, and defeat unless humility and dependency on God remains our focus.
My Maltese has had puppies in five cycles now. In all cycles, she has had a brood of six, save for the third where she had seven. In the first cycle, all the puppies matured and were sold or gifted out. However, from the second cycle onwards, we experienced a number of mortalities, with the last being the worst where all six died within the first month. The vet advised us to find a way to slow down or avoid a sixth cycle. Out of all these deaths, the most frightening one was a puppy that suffered gangrene after constipation blocked blood flow to the intestines. Gangrene is the death of body tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Treatment is a medical emergency and in many cases, debridement (amputation) may be the best solution to save a patient, as the spread rate of gangrene is rapid, poisoning and killing other body parts (just like sin's destructive nature, Romans 6:23).-
This week's study, "The Enemy Within," continues to confirm the consistency of God's judgment. Many have labored over why God opted for the desolation or annihilation of the inhabitants of Canaan, wondering if He was biased towards Israel. However, we can now confirm that where there is sin, stubborn disobedience, and rebellion, God moves to eliminate to save the bigger picture or the rest (Proverbs 14:32). It's becoming clear that God's judgment on Canaan was not just war or violence but a prophylactic measure against sin, iniquity, and rebellion that manifested within Canaan (Deuteronomy 20:16-18), just like in Ai (Joshua 7-8). Sin is like gangrene, eating away at the body, and God's action is like amputation – to protect and save humanity (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). The key highlight of this week's study is the consistency of God towards sin and iniquity, whether within or without, whether in Canaan or within His beloved Israel – God destroys sin (Psalm 5:4-6) - with a case study of Achan's iniquity. This story serves as a warning to us about the risk of petting sin and where we stand when our covetousness pits us against God's will (James 1:14-15).
I love dogs especially during those days when they’re about to give birth. Here at home, we never assist them; they always seem to know where to find a warm and safe place, sometimes even four days before delivery. We only realize it later when we hear the puppies crying. The mother never allows us, especially visitors, to touch them at first. After some days, the puppies come out, guided by natural instinct.
When their mother makes a certain sound, they all hurry back to her side. When they’re fully grown, we start feeding them and letting them play around. At that stage, only family members can hold or play with them, while the mother watches carefully. She doesn’t react unless one of the puppies makes a strange sound of distress as if being attacked then she rushes to protect them. What a beautiful instinct of love and vigilance!
Reading your experience with your Maltese really touched me. The comparison between gangrene and sin is such a deep and sobering truth. Just as gangrene spreads quickly and demands immediate action to save life, sin, when left unchecked, silently eats away at the soul. Your reflection beautifully ties this to Romans 6:23 and 1 Corinthians 5:6–7, reminding us that sometimes God must act firmly like a skilled surgeon to protect the whole body from spiritual decay.
Your insight on “The Enemy Within” and God’s consistent justice shows that His actions, whether in Canaan or among His own people, are never random or cruel they are acts of mercy meant to preserve holiness and life. Just like a mother dog who listens closely for her puppies’ cry, God too listens for the cry of His children and steps in to defend, heal, or correct as needed.
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and spiritually grounded reflection. It reminds us not to “pet sin” or ignore its danger, but to let God cleanse us fully so we may live and grow safely under His loving watch.
Wow! Powerfuul!
The problem with drawing a moral lesson out of the story of Achan and Ai is that most of us rank our morality as so much better than his. 20 ounces of gold and 80 ounces of silver, and add some high-fashion Mesopotamian clothes as well - most of us would not even dream of such riches. Our sins are of much less value than his! Somehow, we rank ourselves a bit further up the hill than Achan.
But when it comes down to the hard facts it is not about size or value. It is about where the centre of our moral compass is. It does not matter whether you are a little rowboat or a large ship, if you are in the middle of the ocean and your compass is not working, you are lost!
Excellent Comment!
Maurice - do you know what needs to be done to keep the compass calibrated to true 'north'? We study all the time to be able to identify the different 'winds and weather' ready to blow us off course. But do we know, or how can we know that we are not fooled by a faulty compass? What keeps us from drifting into dangerous waters?
I am sure that most of is know, but, we sometimes spend more time describing it than accepting it.
Thank you, Maurice - please permit me to ask some follow-up questions:
What is that which "most of us know"? Does 'it' have a name, or what is 'it'?
If 'it' is being discribed more than accepted, does this mean we are prone to traveling through troubled, spiritual waters without the aid of the 'compass?
Does this then imply that it is not possible to navigate life safely without the 'compass' revealing 'true north'?
If so, we need to be extremely careful to accept to never ignore this compass or let it become rusty and fall into disrepair. 🙂
If you are in a boat with a compass, There is one important thang you must know; it points north! I am a scientist and could describe how ferromagentism works. It takes a couple of pages and some pretty hairy forumlas. I could also discuss the interaction of ferromagnetic objects with geomagnetic fields. That would take a few more pages, a couple of neat diagrams and some more hairy equations. At the end of all that description the compass still indicates north and that is the pointy bit that people need to know when they are in a boat.
It is called faith and trust.
This is how I got it.
A compass always points north, giving travelers direction even when they can’t see the road ahead.
In the same way, faith points us toward God our true “spiritual north.” When life feels uncertain or confusing, trust in God keeps us on the right path.
Proverbs 3:5–6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
When travelers use a compass, they often can’t see their destination they simply trust the needle’s direction.
Likewise, our faith journey requires believing and following God’s guidance even when the destination is unseen.
Hebrews 11:1 — “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
A compass still points true north no matter how dark, stormy, or confusing the environment is.
Similarly, faith remains steady even when life’s storms rage around us. It reminds us that God’s truth never changes.
Psalm 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
If the compass is too close to metal or magnets, it may give a false reading.
In the same way, sin, fear, or worldly influences can pull our hearts away from God’s direction. We must keep aligning our faith with Scripture and prayer to stay true.
Romans 12:2 — “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Brother Maurice, so enjoyed your commentary! Could Christ be the compass?
The gospel is never forced on anyone. Jesus shared the good news through love, not pressure. God showed His real love when “He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16) so that we might be saved.
Genuine love has the power to change hearts. It leads us to repentance not through fear, but through the kindness of God, “The goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).
True confession comes from sorrow for sin and a sincere desire to make things right with God, not just fear of punishment. “A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
That’s why Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
True love doesn’t force, it transforms. When love fills the heart, obedience becomes a joy, and confession becomes healing.
In Daniel 9:4–19, Daniel’s repeated use of the word “we” is deeply meaningful. Though he lived a blameless life, Daniel identified himself with his people’s sins. He didn’t stand apart from Israel but prayed as one of them, confessing, “We have sinned.” This spirit of humility and unity shows that true intercession means standing in the gap for others, not judging them from a distance. Daniel’s prayer reminds us that no one is righteous apart from God’s mercy, and that revival begins when God’s people—together—acknowledge their need for forgiveness and grace. His prayer reflects the heart of Christ, who, though sinless, bore our guilt and interceded for us all.
The lesson this week solidified my belief that I may not always have an explanation for everything in the bible. The Holy Spirit's job is to reveal Christ, who is the Word. My choice is to ask the Spirit for understanding of things that are difficult to explain, admitting in humility, that I don't know everything. One such example is, "why did God treat Achan's sin differently from that of Aaron's sin."
I find the multitude of explanations regarding the issues highlighted in this week’s lessons quite remarkable. I wonder - are we able to look into the heart and mind of Achan, or, for that matter, anyone? Are we able to know and ‘observe’ all that which took place when studying the lessons in order to come up with the right understanding?
Assuming to have spiritual insight in the workings of the mind of Achan, Joshuah, God, etc. is, in my opinion, a bit presumptuous. Should we not make sure to include a ‘disclaimer’ to state that our opinion/judgement is derived from our own understanding?
The ‘enemy within’ is very deceptive. He sounds logical, reasonable, can use examples, symbols, metaphors and analogies, or simple associations which we are familiar with and make sense to us. But can the use of these make known, reveal to us, the mind of God?
Unless divinely revealed through prophecy, our understanding comes from analyzing the ‘manifestations and symptoms of sin’, using our mind to reason out the evidence and deliver a ‘verdict’. Maurice points out that our ‘compass’ needs to work correctly. I agree! But what keeps the ‘compass’ calibrated to ‘true north’? Maybe we can find it in 1 Corinthians Chapter 1.
Amen, Hillary.
May we, like Jesus, carry within our hearts nothing but the transforming goodness of God.
May all who behold our lives also experience the transformative power of the living word … to joyful obedience, to the glory of our Creator.
“Because of the great light and glory that rested upon him, Moses did not know that his face shone with a dazzling brightness when he came down from the mount. It was the reflection of the glory of Christ.”
— Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 330
Moses’ transformation came from communion with God, not from self-effort. He carried the divine brightness without realizing it just as those who truly walk with God reflect His goodness naturally.
“When we love the Lord with all the heart, mind, soul, and strength, this love will be revealed in the life. It will shine forth in holy influence and will affect others for good.”
— That I May Know Him, p. 134
True transformation radiates silently but powerfully influencing others not by words alone, but through the quiet beauty of a Christ-filled life.
It can be pretty negative that Christians do not follow the Lord. Even though power is achievable, sinners deny the force of love. It is easy to criticize than to conciliate. May God have mercy!
I will admit - I actually like a well-created adverisement. I admire the skill of people in crafting a message that will attract people and I have always enjoyed teaching my students about them. For that reason, I take exception with question #1 which seems to lump advertising and consumerism together. There are connections for sure as adveristing can feed consumerism, but consumerism is ultimately a heart issue. We are not helpless victims of the society we live in and advertising only drives us towards where our heart is going.
The question also suggests knowing the difference between a need and a want is crucial, but I don't know if that is the answer to the problem of coveting. I think you can covet things you need too. Again, it is a heart issue.
God create us so as to follow him from what guide us to the beginning, enemies are always within our daily life, so let's ly on his power in order to control our soul.
As the bible says that we should be vigilant as a serpent though we have enemies with us but when we stick to God we can overcome and do this will
Here again, The 10th commandment does not just say "You shall not covet," and just stops there. It goes on to say what we are not to covet. It is "The Motive" that makes the difference as to whether coveting is sinful or not. There is a statement in the Old Testament that says that "It is God who gives us power to attain wealth." But how could God even go on to give us wealth if we did not "Covet wealth?," and how could we even "Pursue wealth," if we did not "Covet it?" Is there a difference in "Pursuing wealth," and "Coveting wealth?" Or, is it possible to "Acquire wealth," without coveting it? Going back to the 10th commandment, it ends by saying to "Not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor." Therefore, to me, there is no sin in coveting anything as long as it does not belong to someone else, or as long as one does not use deceptive tactics to acquire it. Or as long as we do not go against a higher up command to not take something of value that is near to us. I see the sin of Achan as being more based on two things: 1.His disobedience to God's Command to not take anything of value from Jericho, and 2. His stubbornness to refuse to acknowledge his sin to save himself and his family from God's Righteous Wrath. But I do not see in this account that God condemned Achan for "Coveting" at all.
Pete he did want things that belonged to God. That was what led him to take the gold and silver and the garment. The sin of coveting led him to the actual sin which could be called stealing or even idolatry.
Was it wrong for Achan to want money and nice clothes? No, but it obviously became so important to him that it stopped him from obeying. The key idea is that sin begins in the heart. And that's why God gave the 10th commandment. It is actually impossible to punish someone for breaking the 10th commandment because it only happens in the mind. Only God knows about it. But it leads to every other sin.
I personally think desires becoming coveting when they take over our behavior. That was true for Achan and it can be true for many other things. As for pursuing wealth, God is not against it. But it is dangerous. Jesus spoke on the dangers of money many times. And no, he didn't just talk about coveting other people's money. The man who built the barns wasn't coveting other people's barns, but his attitude toward wealth was sinful. So we have to be so careful.
Pete wrote:
First of all, yes, God can "give us wealth" if we do not "covet wealth" or "pursue wealth." In fact, I don't believe God ever gives wealth to those who "covet wealth." But it is likely that Satan gives wealth to those who "covet wealth," because they strengthen his kingdom.
When Solomon was young, he did not "covet wealth." Instead he asked for wisdom to govern wisely. Yet God gave him wealth.
There is no record that Abraham ever "coveted" wealth. In fact, he did not consider this earth his home but looked forward to the heavenly kingdom. But God gave him wealth and influence.
Joseph did not "covet" wealth, but, after giving him strength to stand strong amidst trials, God gave him wealth and power.
In relatively modern times, we can see how various people got their wealth. Even in secular society, we see people get very wealthy by finding a need people have and doing something to fill that need - something people will pay for. (And, yes, some selfish and dishonest people get wealthy as well. But their wealth is a curse to them, not a blessing.)
Desiring or coveting wealth for wealth's sake will always result in the loss of eternal life and very often leads to dishonest practices in this life.
Jesus said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things [necessities] shall be yours as well." And seeking first the Kingdom of God may even lead to wealth along the way - wealth that God expects the receiver to use to do God's work on this planet. After all, wealth is never our own. We are only stewards of the Master's good - like Joseph was in the house of Potiphar.