Joshua 7 (5)

So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. He brought the clan 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. Then 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. Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide itfrom me.” And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: 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. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.”  Joshua 7.16-21

Reflect.
1.  What is covetousness? Why might it be considered the gateway to all sin?

2.  This could have been considered a “private” sin, but it was very publicly exposed. Why?

Think about it.
The entire nation is involved in this drama of cleansing Israel from a heinous sin. The sanctifying of the people would be completed by this, and they would know their guilt had been removed. From the assembled tribes, “the tribe of Judah was taken.” We’re not sure how (possibly by casting or drawing lots), but Joshua received some indication that this was the tribe, then the family, then the household, and finally, the man.

Joshua does not accuse; he calls on Achan to give glory to God by owning up to his transgression. We note that Joshua uses the LORD God of Israel, God’s preferred way of being known. This shows that he is indeed acting as the Lord’s agent in this situation.

Achan makes no attempt to deny or justify his behavior. We note his awareness of the process leading to his transgression: “I coveted them and took them.” The coveting came first, then the stealing and deceiving. Covetousness is very often the gateway to other sins, when our desire for something or someone exceeds the bounds of righteousness. Unchecked, it can lead us into transgression. Achan knows that his sin is ultimately against God, as is all sin, no matter who gets hurt in the process.

God is glorified in Achan’s confession, because in confessing he was agreeing with God’s judgment and thus reasserting the truth of God’s Law. This public confession would instruct the people in two ways: first, in not sinning, so that they might avoid such humiliation; and second, in knowing what to do when caught in a sin (1 Jn. 1.8-10). Achan’s confession has a twofold effect: Israel is cleansed, and he is condemned.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  How did this situation bring glory to God? That is, how was God glorified in the destruction of this man and his household?

2.  Why is it necessary to confess our sins? What should follow confessing sins? 

3.  Should churches be more active and consistent in helping their members to deal with temptations and overcome sin? Explain.

“But there was a special reason why Joshua exhorted Achan to give God the glory, because by denying or equivocating he might have impaired the credit of the decision. The matter had already been determined by lot. Joshua, therefore, simply orders him to subscribe to the divine sentence, and not aggravate the crime by vain denials.” John Calvin, Commentary on Joshua (1509-1564AD)

Search me, O God, and know my thoughts. Try me and see my ways. And show me any lingering sins, that I may…

Pray Psalm 32.1-7
Here is a psalm you can use to confess your sin and to rest in God’s deliverance.

Psalm 32.1-6 (Hendon: Take My Life and Let It Be)
Blessed are they whose sins the Lord has forgiven by His Word!
Pure their spirits are within; them He charges with no sin;
them He charges with no sin!

When in silence I remained, groaning in my sinful pain, 
You Your hand upon me lay; all my strength You drained away, 
all my strength You drained away.

I confessed my sin to You; You forgave me, ever true!
Let confession’s pleading sound reach You while You may be found,
reach You while You may be found.

T. M. Moore

Where does the book of Joshua fit in the ongoing story of God’s covenant? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you discover the place in God’s work of redemption not only of Joshua but of all the books of the Bible. God’s Covenant is a valuable resource to guide you in all your studies in God’s Word. To order your copy, click here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).