The sin of Achan

You might remember the account given in the book of Joshua.  Moses had just died and Joshua is given command of the Israelite army. Finally after forty years of wandering in the wilderness the children of Israel are going to enter the land of Jericho.  However, they first had to take the land in battle.  This seemed to be somewhat of a difficult task, but God gave them clear instructions on how they were to accomplish it. God also gave them other instructions.  Right before entering the land Joshua said, "And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things..." (Joshua 6:18b). These are described as: silver, gold, and bronze.  As the account unfolds we read that God was faithful to His promise in that He allowed Israel to conquer Jericho.  However, Joshua also recorded that the children of Israel were not faithful.  He said that Achan, a man of Israel, took of the accursed things. (Joshua 7:1).  The next land that was to be conquered was Ai.  Ai was not supposed to be a threat, actually Joshua only sent about 3,000 men.  Yet the unimaginable happened, Israel lost.  Joshua (who was unaware of what Achan had done) was deeply sorrowful, he tore his clothes and fell to the earth and lamented.  He cried out to God and asked why He even brought Israel over the Jordan.  Joshua further asked "what will You do for Your great name" (Joshua 7:9b)?  God then replied: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them" (Joshua 7:10b, 11a).  God further explained to Joshua what had taken place.  Then God told Joshua how to find the one who had stolen the accursed things.  When Joshua went through this process he finally came to Achan.  Joshua asked Achan to confess, and he did.  Achan said, "When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them" (Joshua 7:21a). Then according the command of the Lord Joshua took Achan, his family, and possessions and had them all stoned and burned.  God then gave the command to go back to Ai and conquer it.  It is very interesting what the Lord then said to Joshua.  The Lord said "And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoils and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves" (Joshua 8:2).  I find it very interesting that after everything that had happened with Achan, because he took the spoils of Jericho.  Going into Ai God tells Joshua they can have the spoils.   A great lesson can be learned from this.  It is pretty obvious that God did not care about the gold, silver, or a priestly garment. God wanted the very thing that Achan did not give Him.  God wanted obedience from His children.  Achan disobeyed God and was punished for it.  As children of God we need to learn from Achan, we must render to God the obedience He deserves.  

Garrett Bookout

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