The Fine Print: The Devil Doesn’t Deserve the Credit
- May 5
- 5 min read
Part One: Owning Our Choices
The Devil Doesn’t Deserve the Credit
Welcome back!
Friend, let’s be real—sometimes we give the devil way too much credit. Why though?
It’s easy to blame the enemy when life gets hard. We say things like, “The devil is really trying me,” or “the devil is so busy.” But here’s the truth: the devil has power, yes, but he doesn’t have control over us.
You and I—believers in Jesus Christ—have been given authority. Authority to stand firm, authority to resist, and authority to render the schemes of the enemy null and void through the power of Christ. Period.
📖 “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” – Luke 10:19 (NLT)
Still, not every trial or hardship is an attack from the devil. Sometimes… it’s just the result of our own choices. Our own desires. Our own decisions.
Let’s talk about it.
We’ve all heard the big Bible stories—Eve in the garden, Jesus in the wilderness, maybe even David and Goliath. And those are powerful. But let's take a look at a less common story.
Today, I want to introduce you to one of those lesser-known stories—Achan. A man who didn’t face a demonic attack. He made a decision. And it cost him everything.
His story will help us see how important it is to own our choices, take sin seriously, and stop blaming the devil for things we’ve actually chosen.
Achan — A Man Who Brought Trouble on Himself
📖 Joshua 7:1–26
If you’ve never read the book of Joshua, go ahead and add it to your reading list—it’s rich with miracle moments and testimonies of God’s power and presence. Let’s catch up to what’s happening in chapter 7.
At this point in the story, the Israelites had just crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. But they didn’t cross it with boats or bridges. No—they crossed on dry ground. God literally caused the waters to stop flowing the moment the priests stepped into the river. That water stacked up upstream and the people walked through. Just wow.
Once they made it across, they built a memorial of twelve stones. A reminder for future generations: “God did this for us.”
Then came Jericho.
This wasn’t just any city—it was fortified. Huge walls. Heavily guarded. But those inside were trembling because word had already spread about the God of Israel. They knew He didn’t lose battles.
God gave Joshua very specific, detailed instructions on how to conquer the city—and Joshua obeyed. They didn’t even need weapons to break the walls. They walked, they worshiped, they waited on God. And the walls came crashing down. But God also gave a clear command: Don’t take anything from the city for yourself. All the treasure, all the gold, silver, and valuables—those belonged to the Lord.
Fast forward to the next battle—a small town called Ai. Easy win, right? Wrong.
Israel lost. And Joshua was confused.
He fell on his face and cried out to God: “Why did this happen?”
God’s answer: “There is sin in the camp.”
A man named Achan had disobeyed the command. He had seen some silver, a gold bar, and a beautiful robe. And he wanted them. So he took them, hid them under his tent, and said nothing.
When he was confronted, Achan confessed:
“I have sinned against the Lord… I saw… I coveted… I took… I hid.” – Joshua 7:20-21
Let’s pause here...
This wasn’t spiritual warfare. This wasn’t Satan whispering lies. This was disobedience. A conscious, deliberate choice. And that one decision brought defeat, grief, and loss—not just to Achan, but to the entire community.
I know this story is intense, and you might be thinking, “Whew, thank God we’re under grace now!” And yes—thank God for Jesus! But this story isn’t about punishment—it’s about the weight of disobedience and how one choice, even in private, can affect public outcomes.
Here’s the good news: under the New Covenant, we’re covered by the blood of Jesus. We don’t face the same punishment Achan did. But grace doesn’t mean we treat sin casually.
We don’t face the same kind of judgment that Achan did. But that doesn’t mean we should take sin lightly or ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
📖 “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!” – Romans 6:1-2
See, sin today doesn’t always look like stealing gold and hiding it under your tent. Sometimes it looks like something much smaller—subtle things we might overlook or excuse.
But if the Holy Spirit is nudging you, that “small thing” isn’t small to God. It’s about the condition of your heart.
Let’s bring this closer to home...
What This Means for Us Today
Disobedience isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it shows up in small moments:
🍽️ When God says, “That’s enough.”
You’re at the table, you’re full, but you go back for more. And the Holy Spirit whispers, “We’re done here."
It’s not about food—it’s about discipline and stewardship.
Can He trust you to listen when it seems small?
💼 When God says, “Don’t take that job.”
It pays well, it looks perfect on paper, but deep down—you don’t have peace. Everyone around you says, “Take it!” but God is saying, “No.”
And when we ignore that still, small voice?
We often find ourselves in places God never sent us.
📱 When God says, “Put the phone down.”
You’re exhausted, mentally and spiritually, but you’re still scrolling. You hear Him gently say, “Rest,” but you keep going.
Now you’re drained, distracted, and disconnected—and it wasn’t the enemy. It was disobedience.
🙅🏽♀️ When God says, “Don’t respond to that comment.”
It’s not spiritual warfare—it’s a test of your willingness to walk away.
So Let’s Be Honest
Sometimes we cry “warfare” when what we really need to say is, “Lord, I didn’t listen.”
But here’s the beautiful thing: God corrects those He loves. And conviction is a gift, not a punishment.
Grace doesn’t cancel accountability—it calls us into maturity.
Conclusion
So, what do we take from Achan’s story?
It’s this: We have more power than we think. And sometimes the breakthrough, the peace, the answered prayer—we’re waiting for it on the outside, but God is asking us to deal with something on the inside.
This week, I challenge you to ask honestly:
Is this spiritual warfare?
Or is it something God already told me to walk away from, let go of, or avoid?
Because when we take ownership, we take back our authority.
The devil doesn’t deserve the credit. Not when the decision was ours. And not when grace is still extending the invitation to obey.
You’re covered. You’re called. And you’re capable—through Christ—to choose differently today.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for loving me enough to correct me. Thank You for the gentle nudges, the conviction, and the voice of the Holy Spirit that leads me into truth. I don’t want to ignore Your instruction, not even in the small things.
Give me a sensitive heart—one that listens quickly and obeys you fully. Show me where I’ve called it an attack when it was really disobedience. And give me the grace to own my choices without shame, knowing that Your mercy meets me right there.
Help me grow in wisdom.. In Jesus’ name, amen.
✨ Next Week: Part Two — Discerning the Schemes of the Enemy
We’re going deeper into the story of Micaiah and unpacking what it looks like when the enemy really is at work behind the scenes. You’ll learn how to sharpen your discernment and stand firm in truth, even when you're surrounded by voices telling you otherwise.
Stay tuned, friend. God is training your ears and strengthening your steps. 💛
