The is nothing that breeds failure like success! That’s the
story line in Joshua 7! In Joshua 1, we meet God’s man for the hour, Joshua. He
is a prepared man to take the place of Moses to lead the people of Israel into
the Promise Land! He is a servant, a soldier, and a man of faith. In these
first chapters of the book, leads the people miraculously across the Jordan
River and conquers a tremendous fortress, the City of Jericho. In Joshua 2, we
met Rahab the harlot! She is a pagan Canaanite, who put her faith in the God of
Israel, hides the spies, and saves herself and her family from the destruction
of Jericho.
Now in Joshua 7, we meet another man by the name of Achan.
No doubt he is one of the soldiers of the army of Israel. He grew up in the
wilderness under the leadership of Moses and experienced God’s provisions every
day; manna from heaven, water miraculously come out of rocks, great victories
over power kings like Sihon and Og, and more recently the transfer of
leadership from Moses to Joshua. He must have heard and maybe even participated
in proclaiming with the men of Israel in Joshua 1:16-18, “So they answered
Joshua, saying, "All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send
us we will go. Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only
the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. Whoever rebels against
your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall
be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage."
Achan watched the Jordan River miraculously part and dry up
as they entered the Promise land just a few weeks earlier. He marched around
the walls of Jericho and saw them fall flat and the city destroyed. And he also
must have heard the instructions that Joshua gave all the people in Joshua
6:18-19, “And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you
become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of
Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of
bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury
of the LORD."
Achan was indeed a very blessed man! He was of the seed of
Abraham, an Israelite, God’s chosen people. He was from the tribe of Judah,
which would produce the Messiah. He had a wife and precious children. He had a
nice tent to live in. But! That is how chapter 7 of Joshua begins. Did you
notice how Joshua 6 ended? After the great victory over Jericho we read, “So,
the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country” (Joshua
6:27). Great success! Joshua is on the front page of all the newspapers in
Canaan. He leads the evening news broadcast! And most of all, he has the
testimony that the LORD was with him.
Great victory, but there was sin in the camp of Israel that
changed everything. One translation of verse 1 reads,
“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….”. Remember the instructions in Joshua 6:18-19. Achan
is known in Bible history as the man who troubled Israel (Josh. 7:25). Because
of Achan's disobedience, Israel was defeated at Ai, and the enemy killed
thirty-six Jewish soldiers. It was Israel's first and only military defeat in
Canaan, a defeat that is forever associated with Achan's name.
We should never underestimate the amount of damage one
person can do outside the will of God. Over the next few days, we might need to
ask the Lord what are we hiding in our secret closets that is causing defeat in
our families and church!
God bless!
