ADULT STS LESSON 159 THE SIN OF ACHAN AND DESTRUCTION OF AI

MEMORY VERSE: 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 7:1).

TEXT: Joshua 7:1-26; 8:1-35

The fall of Jericho increased Israel’s faith and courage to take on other nations. With confidence and elation, Joshua moved the people to invade Ai. However, they were defeated and lost thirty six men of war. This sudden setback led Joshua and the elders of Israel to seek the face of God. The Lord responded with an exposition of a secret sin in Israel’s camp, which led to the defeat. Through Joshua’s supplication, intercession and confession of sins, the sin was discovered, dealt with and God’s presence came back into the camp. Israel was now ready to attack Ai and destroy it.

The strategy God revealed to Joshua was transmitted to the army and implemented by the soldiers. As a result, Ai was comprehensively defeated. This teaches us that, at all times, believers and leaders of the Lord’s army either in the family or church must be sensitive to the leading of the Lord so as to get needed strategies to overcome the devil and his cohorts, and maintain a consistent life of victory.

THE DEFEAT OF ISRAEL THROUGH SIN (Joshua 7:1- 12; Ecclesiastes 9:18; 1 Chronicles 21:1-3,7-8,14; Romans 5:17,18; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 10:6,8; Hebrews 12:15)

“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 7:1). Achan could not resist the wicked thought of disobeying God’s word and touching the accursed thing in Jericho “And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it” (Joshua 6:18).

He did not weigh the consequences of lusting after evil and his action led to the death of thirty-six men in Israel’s camp. A single man’s trespass led to the destruction of many lives (Ecclesiastes 9:18). As the Scripture says, “…by one man’s offence death reigned by one” (Romans 5:17). Other examples abound of people who sinned and brought the ugly consequences on others.

One, the mariners suffered from a great storm and loss of their valuables because of the disobedience of Jonah (Jonah 1:1-12).

Two, David sinned by numbering Israel against God’s will and the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel that killed 70,000 people ( Chronicles 21:14).

Three, the defilement of Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, by Shechem, a prince in the land, led to the destruction of Hamor, his father, and all the males in the city (Genesis 34:1-31).

Four, some Israelites committed fornication in the wilderness and the punishment claimed 23,000 lives (1 Corinthians 10:8).

Five, Pharaoh’s hardness of heart led to the death of all the firstborn in Egypt.

Apart from these scriptural accounts, historical facts show that most conflicts, communal, civil, tribal or world wars could be traced to the actions of a single or few individuals. Therefore, we ought to be careful of our deeds and, as believers, spread the gospel in order to avert the destructive consequences of sin. Joshua had sent men from Jericho to spy Ai and the returned with a report and advised him not to use the entire force because the men of Ai were few. “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” (Joshua 7:3). Thus, they underrated the men of Ai.

Likewise, many believers underrate the power of the devil and by so doing, suffer defeat at his hand. Also, Joshua did not seek the face of God; rather, he took counsel from his people. He might have been overwhelmed by the fall of Jericho, and as such, he did not inquire from the Lord before going out to fight Ai. “And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarin” (Joshua 7:5). The defeat was unexpected because the men of Ai were very few in the eyes of Israel’s men of valour. This is a lesson for believers to always walk by faith and not by sight.

We learn also from Joshua’s failure to seek God’s face before invading Ai that:

One, we should not be carried away with past victory (Philippians 3:13).

Two, he presumed that God’s presence was always with them and there was no need to check up with Him.

Three, he forgot the need for daily self-examination since each day presents its own challenges and God gives us new messages for each day.

Four, we should follow the example of David who consistently enquired from the Lord before engaging in any battle.

Five, over-confidence usually leads to defeat. In his disappointment, Joshua lamented, “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 7:7).

His ignorance reflected in his prayer of blaming God for their calamity and defeat. He was hasty and overwhelmed by the consequences of their sudden setback. When things happen, believers should be calm and examine themselves in the light of God’s word. Like David, our prayer should be more of self-examination than complaints and murmuring (Psalm 139:23). A soul-searching enquiry will enable us get to the root of the problem and obtain victory over the enemy.

DISCOVERY AND JUDGMENT OF A SECRET SINNER (Joshua 7:10-26; 1 Timothy 5:24: Matthew 10:26; James 1.13-15; Acts 5:1-5)

The omniscient God saw what Achan had done that led to the defeat of Israel by Ai and quickly responded to Joshua’s prayer. He said, “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…” (Joshua 7:11,12). Thus, the Lord revealed to Joshua the details of Achan’s transgression and the reason for Israel’s defeat. His sin drove God’s presence away from their camp. God’s answers to Joshua is a warning to those who indulge in secret sin and think that no one knows. “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

Every sin a person commits on earth shall be exposed on the day of judgment. God’s presence departs from anyone and place where sin is covered and not exposed. Some backsliders like Achan may be in God’s vineyard, still playing their role in the church without realising that their service is an offence
To God. “Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow…” (Joshua 7:13). This instruction God gave Joshua to sanctify the people and be ready for a holistic solution places a responsibility on believers and leaders to know the state of their flocks.

It is also a wake-up call for leaders and ministers to ensure they preach messages on sanctification frequently. Achan remained defiant despite Joshua’s lamentation and announcement towards solving the problem. He was compelled to confess his sins only after he was discovered. After being ensnared by covetousness, the accursed thing became an idol in his heart. His covetous spirit covered the evil deed until he was found out (Numbers 32:23). Finally, with his entire family. Achan and the accursed things were destroyed. His sons and daughters were expected to dissociate and expose the sin of their father, which would have vindicated them but they did not. Believers should be bold enough to confront and expuse sin when it is discovered so as not to be partakers of other people’s sin (1 Timothy 5:22)

DESTRUCTION OF AI THROUGH DIVINE STRATEGY (Joshua 8:1-35, 6:2-5, Exodus 15:3, Psalm 83.18; 2 Samuel 5:17-25; 2 Kings 4:1-7, Hebrews 6:11,12, Ephesians 6:10-17; I Corinthians 10:11,12)

It was an assuring comfort to Israel that Ai was eventually brought to judgment and defeated in the next battle through divine strategy. God gave Joshua the strategy for victory. “And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready” (Joshua 8:4). In order to overrun the city, the strategy was for the army to lay ambush against the city. God knows the peculiar battle every believer faces The understanding that He knows the solution to every problem should make believers exercise absolute trust in Him and seek His face for intervention. For the strategy to work perfectly, the army of Israel were given details of the ambush.

They would draw them out of the city by faking defeat and running away. With this, enemy soldiers would pursue them but would quickly be sandwiched between the Israelites. The strategy was successful; Ai was overthrown and all the enemies were destroyed and their king captured. Twelve thousand people, comprising women, children and old persons left behind in the city of Ai were all destroyed. As Joshua learned to seek God always for ways to fight the enemies, believers should always find out from Him what methods to adopt in conquering the battles of life and ministry. Believers must not allow any situation or circumstance to so overwhelm them that they cannot seek God for guidance.

However, we need to bear in mind that there are two sides to God’s promises: the divine and the human. To have God’s great promises fulfilled believers must ensure they fulfil their side of the deal. God fulfils His promise provided people are ready to fulfil their own responsibility. When Elisha instructed the widow to gather vessels, the oil stopped at the point there were no more vessels to fill (2 Kings 4:1 7). When God’s work is done in God’s way at God’s time, there will be a positive result. Thus, Ai was completely overrun in the battle against Ai, we learn that, one, Joshua humbled himself and sought to know the cause of their defeat in the hands of a seemingly insignificant city.

Every believer who has suffered defeat needs to do self examination to ascertain the cause and seek to know and do the will of God. Two, there are several battles in life and each has its peculiar strategy for victory with God. Therefore, we must learn to listen to Him. Three, we should not fear. God’s command is, “Fear not, neither be thou dismayed… see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land” (Joshua 8:1) Four, God did not promise any Christian a battle-free ride to heaven. As long as we live, we will continue to fight against temptations, Satan, his cohorts, the flesh, the world and false teachings. Without battles, there cannot be victory. David suffered a sudden attack of the enemy but he sought the face of the Lord and recovered all (1 Samuel 30:1-19). “Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal (Joshua 8:30).

After the memorable conquest of Ai, Joshua erected an altar on mount Ebal in obedience to God’s earlier command through Moses (Deuteronomy 27:2-8). The building of an altar to God was indicative of a covenant renewal and an acknowledgment of the Lord as the source of their victory. It was both a token of worship and thanksgiving on one hand and a display of the effects of obedience on the other. The Lord commanded that the children of Israel should write the law on plastered stones besides the altar that was raised on mount Ebal. “And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel” (Joshua 8:32).

Then, as the people gathered to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings to God, Joshua read all the words of the law: the blessings and the curses according to all that is written in the book of the law. This shows the centrality of the word of God whenever His people gather to worship Him at home and in the church (Joshua 8:32,34,35, Deuteronomy 27:1-3,8; 31:11-13; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1; 119:11; Luke 4:16; John 5:39). Believers who live in obedience to God’s word will be victorious throughout their sojourn on earth.

Questions for review:

1. What was the cause of Israel’s defeat at Ai?

2. Cite some instances in the Scriptures where one person’s sin led to the destruction of many.

3. Why is it necessary to always seek the face of God before embarking on any project or programme?

4. Describe other instances where Bible characters have had victory over their enemies through God-given strategies.

5. What can believers learn from Israel’s prompt obedience to divine instruction and strategy?

6. What is the significance of the altar built on mount Ebal and what lesson does it teach us?

7. Why is it important to read God’s word always?