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Response
Joshua 7 marks a significant turning point in Israel’s advancement in the Promised Land. Up to this point, the nation had obediently followed the Lord’s instructions and enjoyed remarkable triumphs and prosperity. However, chapter 7 begins ominously with the revelation that “the children of Israel transgressed in regard to the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. So the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel” «But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. », (Joshua 7:1, NKJV).
The “devoted things” refer to items that were consecrated and set apart for the God of Israel, either for special ceremonial purposes or for destruction (see Leviticus 27:28; Deuteronomy 2:34). The treasures captured from the conquest of Jericho, such as silver, gold, and other valuable possessions, were meant for the Lord’s treasury (Joshua 6:17-21), while the idols and all other items in the city were to be destroyed «And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. », (Joshua 6:24)—with the exception of Rahab and her family. The people were strictly prohibited from taking anything from Jericho for their personal gain.
Joshua’s instructions were explicit: “Do not ta
Take heed not to touch any of the things set apart for destruction, or you will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel” «And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. », (Joshua 6:18, NLT). Achan, whose name means “trouble,” violated the command by taking some of the devoted things «But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. », (Joshua 7:1). Achan disobeyed what he knew was God’s will and, by his own confession, took some of the forbidden loot for himself: “When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath” «When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. », (Joshua 7:21). God calls Achan’s sin “an outrageous thing” (verse 15), and because of that sin, Israel was defeated at Ai.
The first thing we observe from Achan taking the accursed things is God’s attitude toward sin. The Lord was angry over Achan’s disobedience, but His anger burned not just against the one man but against all the children of Israel. God held the nation responsible as one whole people, including Joshua andThe elders of Israel. Why would God do this? Because Israel was one people—one family—under God (Exodus 19:5-6; Ecclesiastes 9:18). The whole family was in a covenant relationship with God. When one member breaks the covenant, the entire family’s relationship with the Lord was broken.
A similar bond exists among believers today. Together we form one body, and Jesus Christ is the Head (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). When one member sins, the consequences extend beyond just that one person. In the case of Achan, thirty-six soldiers who had no part in his rebellion died in the battle of Ai.
The apostle Paul applied the rule to the New Testament church: “Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?” «Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? », (1 Corinthians 5:6, NLT). As members of Christ’s body, we are one unit. We belong to one another, we need one another, and what happens to one of us affects all of us: “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad” «And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. », (1 Corinthians 12:26, NLT).
A similar principle is seen in Adam and Eve’s sinful rebellion, which affected the whole human race. The sin of the first humans caused the fall of all humankind, ending the perfect communion all people might have enjoyed with God. We deceive ourselves if we think our sin only affects us. Our disobedience wreaks havoc on those we love—including the innocent.
Achan’s account of his taking of the accursed items reveals a progression of sin: in his own words, he “saw,” he “coveted,” he “took,” and he hid the evidence “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.”, (Joshua 7:21). Seventeenth-century theologian Matthew Poole’s comment well summarizes Achan’s downfall: the sin “began at his eye, which he permitted to gaze and fix upon them, which inflamed his desire, and made him covet them; and that desire put him upon action, and made him take them; and having taken, resolve to keep them, and to that end hide them in his tent” Poole’s English Annotations on the Holy Bible, entry for Joshua 7:21.
Achan’s story also teaches us that God does not allow sin to go unpunished among His covenant people see Numbers 32:23. Achan tries to conceal his sin “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.”, (Joshua 7:21), but what is concealed from human sight is still known to God (Jeremiah 16:17; Job 10:14; Daniel 2:22; Psalm 69:5). We cannot hide our sins from an all-knowing heavenly Father.
The sin of one man put the entire nation at risk of destruction “Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, exce
Put ye destroy the accursed from among you.”, (Joshua 7:12). All the people of Israel had a lesson to learn from Achan taking the accursed things. God told them to “consecrate yourselves” “Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.”, (Joshua 7:13). Tribe by tribe, clan by clan, household by household, each person needed to search his heart, purify his life, and present himself before the Lord. At this moment, God’s grace was extended to each person for the forgiveness of sin. Achan and his family were singled out as the guilty, unrepentant parties and were put to death (Joshua 7:14-24). Then God was no longer angry with Israel. The covenant relationship between the Lord and His people was made right.
Achan’s fate illustrates the truth of James 1:14–15, “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” We discover from Achan taking the accursed things that sin corrupts and destroys people’s lives. In His holiness, God won’t tolerate sin among His people. But in His love He calls us to repentance and forgiveness so that our relationship with Him can be restored.
