God is behind every glorious work and he will not share his glory. He needs clean vessels to do his work. At the very peak moment when his blessings and power are flowing freely through his people, he tells them, “Pause now and put everything on hold because I want to examine your heart.”
Our God wants to do mighty things through us, so if we’re clinging to something that gets in the way of his accomplishing that, he points it out to us. It may be some willfulness or a refusal to trust him for everything. God sometimes wants to add something to our lives before he brings his best. The Lord had made this promise to Joshua: “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses” (Joshua 1:3).
Joshua and his men performed mighty exploits, defeating their enemies, inheriting great lands, and seeing victory as never before. However, something happened during this time of great victory that had to be dealt with. “But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it” (Joshua 6:18). The Israelites were not to take any spoils from the enemies they defeated because the Lord wanted their eyes fixed on things above, not on material goods.
One man, Achan, disobeyed and took some things for himself, and although it wasn’t much— just a pretty coat and a handful of silver and gold—this could have held back God’s best. He confessed, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel” (7:20). It was just a small thing but God revealed it and redeemed the situation.
What is God putting his finger on in your life? Have you been negligent in some area? Don’t delay in your response to the Spirit’s faithful voice. One small thing can determine your whole future and God wants to give you his very best.