Jericho and Achan

Joshua 6 and 7 (NASB)

So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city. (6:20)

When I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it. (7:21)

Joshua 6 describes the Israeli conquest of Jericho, representing the return of the Jews to the Promised Land after centuries of slavery in Egypt.  Joshua 7 describes the story of the sin of Achan and the initial Israeli defeat at Ai.  How and why are these two events relevant to Christians today?

The story of Jericho rivets the imagination.  Imagine about 40,000 people (Joshua 4:13) circling the mighty

Canaanite city of Jericho for six days and then 7 times on the 7^th day before the trumpets of the priests sounded (Joshua 6:15-16).  All these people shouted (think of the noise when 40,000 people are cheering at a football game) and the walls of Jericho “fell down flat” (6:20).  People are fascinated by this story who most likely first heard it as children and remain fascinated about it as adults.  Jericho represented a city/society/culture full of sin that God chose to destroy using the Israelites led by Joshua.  Yet God also chose a method of capturing the city that was far different than any human military leader would choose.  Joshua is an example to us today of having complete faith in the Lord God.  He followed God’s commands exactly, even if those commands might have been very hard to understand.           

The story of Achan can be entitled “The unfailing curse of secret sin” (from a sermon I heard the late Adrian Rogers preach in 1979).  Achan decided to steal some of the spoils of Jericho then lied about it.  Joshua 7:21 describes the progression of sin, true then and true today:

-- Your eyes see something you want (“I saw among the spoil…….”)

-- What you see, you then covet (“…..then I coveted them…….”)

-- What you covet, you eventually steal (“……and took them”)

-- What you steal you then try to hid (“….they are concealed in the earth inside my tent….”)

Because of Achan’s sin, God needed to punish not only Achan, but the whole Israeli nation.  Such fierce judgment and discipline from God was absolutely necessary or the nation would quickly destroyed by its enemies.  Because of the sin of Achan, you can read the following about what happened to Israel and Achan:

-- 7:9  Dishonor to God

-- 7:12  Defeat of our brethren

-- 7:17-18  Disgrace to family

-- 7:24-26  Death to loved ones

Joshua is an example of faith and obedience.  Achan is an example of selfishness and disobedience.  Joshua’s obedience resulted in victory and honor.  Achan’s disobedience resulted in shame and death.  You might wonder why stealing and then trying to hide a theft resulted in death not only to the thief, but to the thief’s family.  Israel’s entire future as a nation was dependent on strict obedience to God.  Any kind of disobedience and hidden sin simply could not be tolerated. 

One last point although a book could be written (and probably has) on all the learning points from the stories of Joshua and Achan.  Joshua 7:7-26 and I John 1:3-10 go together.  Sin is always ultimately revealed.  Trying to hide sin only results in a curse.  Confess and repent now, not when you are caught.  If now, forgiveness (I John 1:9).  If later, judgment (Prov 28:13).

Read thoroughly and reflect on all the teachings about obedience and Joshua 6 and disobedience in Joshua 7.  Make up your mind to live the rest of your life like Joshua and never again try to hide any sin like Achan, but to confess it and be forgiven.  Whatever choice you make, there are consequences.  The stories of Joshua and Achan exemplify those consequences.