Achan's Sin

File No. 41

JOSHUA 7:1 – 8:31

ACHAN’S SIN

(SBS Bk 2 Story No.5)

Story Notes

Israel had come across the Jordan by a miracle and taken Jericho by a miracle. Only God himself could lead such a people and he led them particularly by providing for their holiness. There would be no point in them just living in the land if they filled it with the sins of its past. Like Adam and Eve before him, the fruit of the land (the things in Jericho) appealed to Achan’s eye and ruled his action. His evil heart polluted the whole nation. The dramatic exposure of Achan’s sin and the drastic action to eradicate it set the nation back on its true foundation (trust in God).

Israel’s existence and name had been threatened by the defeat at Ai. But Joshua went to the heart of the matter: what did this mean for the name of God, given that Yahweh was Israel’s God? A future without Israel would be a future without God. ‘What will you do for your great name?’ was his question.

The previous command given was to be strong and very courageous but now it was stated negatively: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed!’ God’s people were not to be mastered by their failure. There was forgiveness with God that he may be feared (Ps. 130:4).

At Jericho, everything was to be destroyed, as for a city in which rebellion had been discovered (Deut. 13:12–18). Now, at Ai, plunder was allowed, but no survivors. The command was obeyed meticulously. If there had been any presumption in sending a small contingent before, there was none now. The whole standing army assembled and they obeyed the battle instructions given by God himself, the ‘Captain of the army of the Lord’ (5:14).

After the battle, Israel worshipped with awe. Uncut stones for an altar suggested that God did not want human intrusion into the worship he provided. Through the burnt offerings, Israel confessed that she was wholly given up to God (nothing remained of this offering) and through the peace offerings that she was in fellowship with God (parts of the peace offering were eaten in God’s presence). These same two offerings were made at the giving of the law. The words of the law were written again by Joshua and the blessings and curses of Deuteronomy (ch. 28) were recited to the people from two hills, one on either side of Israel’s camp. Truly, Israel lived by every word that came from God’s mouth (Deut. 8:3).