The Cost of Hidden Sin: Lessons from Achan's Trespass
"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. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 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, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: 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. In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the Lord taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the Lord shall take shall come by households; and the household which the Lord shall take shall come man by man. And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken: And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 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. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day." - Joshua 7:1-26
Joshua 7 presents a gripping narrative about the consequences of sin within the community of Israel, focusing chiefly on the story of Achan. In verse 1, we read, "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." Here, we learn that the acts of one can have far-reaching implications for many, especially within a covenant community.
In this context, Achan took items that were designated for destruction. God instructed the Israelites not to take any spoils from Jericho (Joshua 6:17-19). Achan’s choice to ignore this command highlights the fragile nature of obedience. How often do we find ourselves in positions where we presume that our individual decisions do not affect the larger community? Achan's sin serves as a stark reminder that hidden sins can lead to public disgrace and severe consequences.
The consequences of Achan’s sin became apparent after Israel's defeat at Ai. The spies returned to Joshua stating that only a small force was needed to conquer the city, suggesting an overconfidence rooted in past victories. Joshua’s response to their advice led to a disastrous loss. "So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai" (Joshua 7:4). Just as Israel fell at Ai, our own spiritual lives can suffer defeat when we fail to acknowledge and confess our hidden sins.
Joshua's heartache following the defeat became evident as he lamented before the Lord, desperate for answers (verse 6–9). His outcry reveals a deep connection between his leadership and the people of Israel—he bore their burdens and felt their failures as his own. This teaches us the importance of accountability and humility in leadership and community life. When one member of the body sins, it is as though the entire body suffers. We need to seek the Lord earnestly, especially when times of trouble arise, just as Joshua did.
God's answer to Joshua's mourning came with conviction: "Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them" (Joshua 7:11). God’s displeasure wasn't directed at Achan alone; instead, it emphasized that the entire nation was suffering due to one man's sin. It's sobering to reflect on how personal sin, often relegated to private spaces, can disrupt communal harmony and effectiveness.
Joshua then acted without delay, following God's instructions to identify the sinner among the tribes. In verses 16-18, Achan is ultimately revealed. This moment illustrates the biblical principle that sin cannot remain hidden indefinitely. "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23) resonates deeply here. Achan confessed, stating that he coveted and took what did not belong to him (verse 20-21). His acknowledgment reflects a pivotal moment—recognition of sin is the first step toward repentance.
Tragically, Achan and his family faced dire consequences for his transgression. The severity of the punishment—stoning and burning—underscores God's holiness and the seriousness with which He regards covenantal faithfulness. "And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day" (verse 26). This heap serves as a memorial, a reminder of the grave repercussions of disobedience to God.
As we reflect on Achan's story, let us consider our own lives. Are there hidden sins that we have yet to confess? Or ways we have allowed our individual choices to affect the church body? God calls us to purity and accountability within our communities; our personal choices matter. Let us seek to live in alignment with His will, supporting one another in honesty, and thereby strengthening the bonds of our fellowship. May we strive to be a people who encourage holiness and seek to glorify God above all else.
Want to reflect more on Joshua 7:1-26?
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Joshua 7:1-26 Artwork
"But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah. Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven. When they returned, they told Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so few of them, don’t make all our people struggle to go up there.” So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away. Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the Lord until evening. Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?” But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction. Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you. In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and the Lord will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That tribe must come forward with its clans, and the Lord will point out the guilty clan. That clan will then come forward, and the Lord will point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come forward one by one. The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of the Lord and has done a horrible thing in Israel.” Early the next morning Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Judah was singled out. Then the clans of Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of Zerah came forward, and the family of Zimri was singled out. Every member of Zimri’s family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out. Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don’t hide it from me.” Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.” So Joshua sent some men to make a search. They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, just as Achan had said, with the silver buried beneath the rest. They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. Then they laid them out before the Lord. Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the Lord was no longer angry." - Joshua 7:1-26
Joshua 1:7-9
Joshua 7:26 - "And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day."
Joshua 18:26 - "And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,"
Joshua 15:26 - "Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,"
Joshua 24:26 - "¶ And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD."
Joshua 10:26 - "And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening."
1 Chronicles 7:26 - "Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,"
Joshua 8:26 - "For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai."
1 Corinthians 7:26 - "I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be."
"And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah," - Joshua 18:26
"Amam, and Shema, and Moladah," - Joshua 15:26
Joshua 19:26 - "And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;"
Joshua 7:1 - "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 21:26 - "All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained."
1 Chronicles 26:7 - "The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah."
Joshua 7:16 - "¶ So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:"
Joshua 7:22 - "¶ So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it."
Joshua 13:26 - "And from Heshbon unto Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;"
1 Kings 7:26 - "And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths."
Joshua 7:10 - "¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?"
Joshua 10:7 - "So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour."
Joshua 11:7 - "So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them."
Joshua 5:7 - "And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way."
Joshua 9:26 - "And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not."
Joshua 7:20 - "And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:"
Joshua 22:26 - "Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:"
Joshua 7:7 - "And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!"
Joshua 6:26 - "¶ And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it."
Joshua 7:23 - "And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD."