Because I Said So
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take all your fighting men and attack Ai, for I have given you the king of Ai, his people, his town, and his land. You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep the plunder and the livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the town.” Joshua 8:1-2
Do you ever have those moments where you really do not feel like doing something but do so because it was asked of you or needed to be done? I harkened back to my younger days growing up. My mother would ask me to clean my room or straighten up something, and I would plea with her asking why it needed to be done at that moment. Her most famous response that I noticed was not limited to my household was plain and simply “Because I said so!” My questioning was not a sign of either disrespect or wondering if the task was necessary. It was understanding how time sensitive it was. But with my Mom, it was straightforward with no room for argument … time sensitive or not!
This experience helps illuminate a broader truth. Sometimes, obedience is not about our convenience or full understanding, but about responding faithfully to the instruction given. The immediacy of the request, whether from a parent or from God, calls for trust and action even when the reason may not be apparent. At that moment, there is the inner voice in me that sighs and looks up to the heavens saying, “Seriously? Now?” And much like my mother, there is that similar response of “Because I said so,” which is making it clear that I need to respond.
Responding to God’s prompting is a valuable practice in our walk of faith. In church, we have been focusing on the book of Joshua and how he was always a faithful servant of God. However, we were reminded of a story involving a man name Achan, who disobeyed God by taking things that were set apart for God for himself. As such, the Israelites were defeated by another tribe despite being given instructions by God on how to defeat them. God spoke to Joshua saying:
Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction. (Joshua 7:11-12)
It thus became a costly and valuable lesson for both Achan, who was stoned along with his family, and Joshua. After making corrections to later defeat AI and making note of what God has done, “Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instruction. Every word of every command that Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them.” (Joshua 8:34-35) This served as a reminder to all what God has done for them and to ensure going forward that they remember to follow His prompting without fail. It is also a reminder for us to understand that there is not only an expectation to follow what God asks of us but also consequences when we do not. That is not difficult to understand when we look at our lives, but if you are like me, we never like the bad stuff that comes with our sin. The positive of it is that spiritual growth is about learning from our transgressions and mistakes, and that makes for a healthy relationship with God.
Following God’s instruction is a feature, not an option as the saying goes. The story of Achan reminds us that obedience often carries consequences far beyond our own lives. We are invited to recall that God’s reasoning may not always be clear in the moment, but His wisdom encompasses a broader view than we can see.
Despite the punishment of Achan, we are also reminded of God’s grace and restoration at work. God didn’t abandon Joshua or the community. Instead, He called them to address what was hidden, to realign their hearts and actions. Only then could they move forward with renewed purpose and blessing. Responding to God’s prompting, even when it interrupts our plans or feels inconvenient, is not just about our obedience but about entering a deeper relationship with Him. Let us not lose sight of this. How often do we miss out on victory or joy simply because we delay or resist God’s quiet nudge to act? Where in our own history can we be reminded of God’s faithfulness when we respond to His instruction. My prayer is we trust, obey, and step out when prompted by God, even if all we have is the assurance, “Because I said so.” Amen.