Joshua 7 (6)

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day. Joshua 7.22-26

Reflect.
1.  How had Achan “troubled” Israel? 

2.  What is suggested about the nature of sin that Achan’s guilt was somehow attached to all his household and possessions?

Think about it.
This is a terrifying scene. A man’s sin and rebellion bring him to a horrible end, and not just him, but “his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had” (v. 24). Was his wife spared? We do not know. Were his sons and daughters in on this deception? Possibly. Everything he owned was tainted by Achan’s sin and was destroyed in the most terrible way. Then a memorial was erected over the scorched bodies and possessions, and a solemn name attached to the site of this horrible event. Who would want to remember this? 

Everybody should.

We note the return of the phrase “and all Israel with him” (v. 23). The nation is getting back on track with its purpose by uniting together in their campaign against sinful peoples and for the promises of God. 

Achan’s sin presented in many ways a microcosm of Canaanite life. The worship of self and things, plunder and deception, and overall scorning the God of heaven and earth – these were features of Canaanite life throughout the land of promise. Achan threatened to bring that way of life into the people of God, and God insisted in the harshest of terms that this must not be so. Alas, Israel would not long remember the “fierceness” of God’s anger but would compromise with their pagan neighbors over and over again.

Perhaps they should have visited the Valley of Achor more often. Perhaps we should, too.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  We might consider this “great heap of stones” a negative memorial. Is there a place for such memorials in the life of faith? Explain.

2.  Achan’s punishment seems extreme. But why was it necessary at this time in Israel’s history? If we are horrified by this account, how should we feel about the cross?  

3.  God is glorified both in the expressionof His wrath against sin and in the satisfaction of His anger. How was God glorified in Jesus’ death on the cross?

“…the evil consequences of his sin would presently have spread like fire over his nation—and this, too, although the people did not know what had occurred and had not excused the sinner—unless his people, sensing the anger of God from the destruction of the men who were slain, had promptly been struck with fear, and unless Joshua, son of Nun, sprinkling himself with dust, had prostrated himself together with the ancients, and unless the culprit, discovered thus by lot, had paid the penalty mentioned above.” Basil the Great (330-379 AD)

Thank You, Lord, that Jesus has borne Your anger toward me. In gratitude for His sacrifice and Your grace, I…

Pray Psalm 44.9-19.
Can you see how this psalm speaks to the state of the Church today? Pray for the churches of the land, that God would bring us to repentance, restore our steps to His path, and remove our reproach.

Psalm 44.9-18 (Faithfulness: Great is Thy Faithfulness)
Ah, but for now in dishonor we languish.
Our armies quail while our enemies boast.
We are as spoil to our foes who despise us; 
God has forsaken those He loves the most.
Refrain vv. 23-26 
Rise up, awake, O Lord! Hide not Your face from us, 
See our affliction, our suffering and pain!
See how our soul is sunk down with oppression; 
Rise up and help and redeem us we pray!

Sold into sin and reproached by our neighbors, 
You do not profit from our woeful state.
Shame and dishonor o’erwhelm and consume us; 
Mocking and scorn for our sin is our fate.
Refrain

All this has come on us, but we remember:
You are our covenant God and our King!
Turn back our hearts to adore and extol You; 
Lord, keep our steps as Your praises we sing.
Refrain

T. M. Moore

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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).