Mark 3:20-35. After being accused of being possessed by Beelzebub (The lord of flies, also the demon of gluttony and envy) Jesus began teaching in parables. He issued a strong warning: “All sins can be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.” Jesus mother and brothers tried to meet him, but Jesus reminded all: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother”.
Joshua 7. After the tremendous victory over mighty Jericho, Joshua was humiliated at Ai. Why? Was it because they tried to do it in their own strength or was it the sin of Achan?
Joshua 8. Finally, after a bitter fight Ai was conquered. Joshua renewed the Covenant at Mount Ebel..
Joshua 9. Without consulting the LORD, the leaders of Israel made a treaty with the Gibeonites, a very bad idea.
In today’s scriptures the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is addressed. The battle of Ai was originally lost, and Joshua and company found Achan had sinned and so he was the cause, when the real cause was that they thought they could do it in their own strength without consulting the LORD first. This error was then repeated in the treaty with the Gibeonites. When trouble, sickness or even accidents come our way we sometimes tend to blame God for our troubles, even when it is done in God’s perfect will, and instead of being angry at God we should be thankful in everything, even if it seems unfair. The blasphemy occurs when we attribute to Satan what God is doing or to God what Satan is doing. But with God, nothing is impossible, so if we come to God honestly and ask what is happening, and take God’s advice and rebuke;and repent, reconciliation and restoration will happen.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 