70. Achen's Sin

"What is it this time?" asked Moses.

"Theft. Mostly women's money pouches and belongings. I don't know how he got into the camps," said Miriam.

"Did any of them catch a glimpse of what he looked like?"

"The women said he was tall and had a dark veil and was wearing a short plaid tunic, but it was too dark to see much."

The elders assembled to talk about enhancing the security among the tribes.

During the meeting, one of the elders Yoniel had a suspect. "One of the men in my camps acts a bit weird. However, people say he's usually like that. He's a Gentile and new to our daily proceedings. He's leaving tomorrow."

Josiah commented, "Ah, that man! He often wears a black veil and short tunic. He always wears short tunics."

"Whoaa!" exclaimed Aaron.

"Okay, let's not judge. We'll keep an eye out and pray for God to reveal this mystery to us," said Moses.

After the meeting, Hur told some of the elders that he'd rather have everyone search his tent so people wouldn't suspect him as well. Tensions were high, and everyone had an eye on his neighbor.

Night patrol. Report of suspicious behavior. Camp searches. Individual tents were instructed to be tightly secured when temporarily uninhabited.

How could the thief have gotten away with this? How could this have happened? And to God's own people too!

One day during the afternoon Scriptural reading and meditation, a young tribe leader named Achen self-reflected. He pondered his sins. How could he even be in such a position among Israel when he had committed such sins? Then, he thought of a possibility of why the recent theft was allowed to occur. Perhaps this breach--this defeat--was because of his sin.

Perhaps it was because of Achen's sin.