PROLOGUE — An Unexpected Defeat Right After Victory
Joshua 7 records a shocking defeat at the far smaller city of Ai, immediately following the overwhelming victory at Jericho (chapter 6). This chapter vividly shows just how far-reaching the consequences of a hidden sin within a community can be.
ACT ONE — Achan’s Secret Sin (verse 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.”
The children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing. At the conquest of Jericho, God had commanded that all the spoils be devoted entirely to Him (chapter 6, verses 18–19). Achan violated this command, secretly taking a portion for himself — yet the text does not say “Achan committed a trespass,” but “the children of Israel committed a trespass.” One individual’s sin was counted as the sin of the whole community.
ACT TWO — A Shocking Defeat at Ai (verses 2–9)
Having confirmed that Ai was a small city, Joshua sent only a portion of his forces rather than the full army.
“Let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither… And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men… wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.”
Wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. This small defeat, coming right after Jericho’s total victory, plunged all of Israel into severe despair. Joshua tore his clothes, threw dust upon his head, and fell prostrate before God, crying out as though the entire people had been abandoned.
ACT THREE — God’s Response, and the Sin Uncovered (verses 10–26)
God’s response was, unexpectedly, not comfort but rebuke.
“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned… for they have even taken of the accursed thing… and put it even among their own stuff… Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies… neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”
Neither will I be with you any more. The reason God’s presence had left the community was made clear — a hidden sin had severed the relationship between God and His people.
A process of casting lots to identify the sinner followed, and finally, Achan was singled out.
“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.”
When I saw… then I coveted… and took them. Achan’s confession is one of the clearest passages in Scripture illustrating the progression of sin — from seeing, to coveting, to taking, and then to secretly concealing it.
The outcome was devastating — Achan and his family, along with all his possessions, were stoned and burned in the Valley of Achor.
REFLECTION — The Communal Reach of a Hidden Sin
The heaviest lesson Joshua 7 gives us is that an individual’s hidden sin never remains merely that person’s own private matter. Achan’s greed had far-reaching consequences — not only for his family, but for the thirty-six Israelite soldiers who died at Ai, and for the morale of the whole community and its relationship with God.
Do you recognize that your own secret choices are never yours alone, but can affect the entire community around you?
NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW
Joshua Chapter 8 — after the sin is dealt with, the renewed assault on Ai and complete victory follow.
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