GETTING STARTED
The police officer looked at me intently and uttered these startling words: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do may be used against you in a court of law.” Sin had tracked me down. Shock. Awe. Fear. There is nothing more devastating than having your sin exposed and knowing that you and others will pay the price.
This is what happens in today’s passage when a man named Achan is called into account for disobeying God’s express command. The nation of Israel had been soundly defeated in battle, and the cause of the defeat was directly attributed to this man’s disgrace.
- In what way do you think your sin affects others?
READ THE WORD: JOSHUA 7:16-26 (ESV)
16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17 And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18 And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. 23 And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the Lord. 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.
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DIGGING DEEPER
- How did Achan cover his action rather than confess it?
- The heap of stones that the people raised over Achan, his family and his possessions (vs. 26) memorialized this act of rebellion for the Israelites and their children. In your own words, describe the seriousness of unconfessed, hidden sin.
- Even if we are able to hide our sin from other people, what is the reality in regard to our sin and God’s perception of it? What does this text tell us about how God feels about our sin?
- Joshua 7 ends by saying the Lord turned from his anger. How does God’s response foreshadow Jesus?
- Spend a moment reflecting on the way you live. How has God used today’s passage to encourage you, or change you? Make a personal commitment to respond to the Lord’s leading.
RESPOND TO GOD
The chilling story about Achan awakens us to the harsh reality that sin has devastating consequences. Israel’s defeat in ensuing battle graphically illustrates the far-reaching influence of sin. The private sin of one or a few can affect the welfare of many other people who do not personally commit that sin. Sin has a ripple effect that causes us to miss out on God’s great blessing. The lone recourse for sin is the cross of Jesus and his empty tomb. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, as by the one man’s disobedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:12).
- God is holy. Spend a few minutes dwelling on the powerful reality that God is separated from sin and is fully devoted to protecting his honor in how you live.