A Third Stone Memorial

Joshua 7:24 And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.

After the dramatic victory at Jericho, the defeat at Ai must have been devastating to the people of Israel. God had made the walls fall and the fortress was no more.  The problem was not there, but within the camp of Isreal.  Keeping the spoil had been forbidden - even a little bit.  Once again, precedent was necessary.  The people needed to see and remember not to contradict God's plan and instructions, not even a little.  This third memorial of stones is like any threes we see in Scripture: the final word.  May we have learned our lesson and set up reminders, lest we forget. Significantly, Hosea was given a prophecy of hope over this valley to share with the people.  God can and does turn these memorials to a positive use.