THE SIN OF ACHAN AND DESTRUCTION OF AI

MEMORY VERSE: “And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done” (Joshua 7:20).

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

As we are looking at the sin of Achan and estruction of AI, we see that after the victory over Jericho, the next battle was against Ai. It was a royal city of the Canaanites, east of Bethel. Joshua, like he did in Jericho, sent men to view Ai (Joshua 7:2). The unfortunate thing was that the men had a true assessment of the city but not the spiritual state of Israel. That led to a regrettable end. This was because, one of the Israelites had taken of the accursed things and made Israel to be accursed before the Lord. For that reason, the Lord was not in their midst to deliver their enemies into their hands. Rather, they were delivered into the hands of their enemies. From the above, it is clear that sin brings defeat and failure.

Joshua, the successor of Moses, had started the work of conquering the lands until they were defeated by Ai because of the sin of Achan. However, after seeking the face of the Lord, the cause of their failure and disgrace was revealed. After obeying God’s instructions, He empowered them to fight against Ai using divine strategies.

Question 1: What should a believer do in times of challenges and difficulties?

Believers should never give up but learn to be resilient by going to the Lord like Joshua did. it is important to know that every challenge has a solution. Youths who are not saved need to get saved, and this will help them hear from God. All saved youths should learn to have faith in God, in order to achieve their heart’s desires.

1. GREAT REGRET AFTER SUGGESTION WITHOUT PRAYER

   (Joshua 7:1-9; 9:3-20; Numbers 14:40-45; 1 Kings 13:7-25; Judges 16:18-21; 2 Corinthians 13:5)

In this part of the study, three things stand out – disobedience defeat and disappointment. The disobedience of Achan brought defeat and disappointment to the whole nation. “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).

Question 2: What is the danger of going into sin?

Just one person had sinned and God said that “the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing,..“. This is to warn us of the danger of sin. Its consequences are epidemic in nature. Apostle Paul also warned the Christian, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Corinthians 5:6). God cannot condone sin among His people (Habakkuk 1:13). If any youth among the children of God sins, that sin could affect the local fellowship. If it is a family, the same thing would happen. God’s presence would leave the family or the fellowship and that would expose them to shame, ridicule and the defeat.

That was the case with the children of Israel. God’s presence had left them and they did not know. They wanted to fight against Ai and spies were sent as it was done to Jericho. When the spies came back, they made a suggestion to Joshua based on their physical assessment of the whole situation without any check on their spiritual strength. To make matters worse, Joshua yielded to the Suggestion without checking up from the Lord whether he could go ahead with that plan. The result was a defeat. “So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of AI” (Joshua 7:4. The men of Ai did not only smite them but also “chased them”. Then, Joshua and some elders of the people began to cry and lament in regret about what had happened (Joshua 7:6-9).

Question 3: What should be the attitude of a Christian youth to people’s suggestion?

Complying with suggestions made by people without asking for divine directive is the cause of some youths’ regret today. There are many cases of suggestions that led to regrets and disappointments in the Bible. Joshua had some strangers who came to join
themselves as friends with him. He did not check up from God before entering into a league with them. Later, he found out that these were part of the people God expected him to destroy (Joshua 9:1-27). The children of Israel presumed to go and fight the Amalekites. They failed to heed Moses’ warning. The result was regrettable (Numbers 14:42-45). The young prophet listened to and Complied with the contradictory prophecy or revelation from the old prophet and the result was a shameful death (1 Kings 13:11-30). Very often, the cause of regrets among youths is failure to take time to check up with God through prayer. When people suggest things to you, always pray about it and d consider it in the light of God’s Word.

2. GOD’S RESPONSE AND RETRIBUTION ON THE UNREPENTANT SINNER

   (Joshua 7:10-26; Deuteronomy 23:14; 1 Samuel 30:1-8)

Joshua and the elders of Israel did not know the cause of the defeat. But, as they were praying before the Lord, He revealed to them that “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” (Joshua 7:11). It is important to note that some things come out clear in God’s response to Joshua. The Lord gives a clear definition of what it means to steal. When you take something that you are not permitted to, that is stealing. More than that, He told them that the sin made Him to leave their midst. However, He told them how they could have Him back into their midst.

Question 4: How can sinners be free from God’s wrath and enjoy His divine presence?

The requirement for God’s presence among His people at all times is holiness. Except you get rid of sin from your life, you cannot enjoy God’s presence. To get rid of sin in your life, you will have to do the following: acknowledge your sin (Psalm 51:1-4); confess them to God (1 John 1:9); forsake them (Proverbs 28:13) and believe in the atonement of Christ (Romans 10:10,11). To aid the process of identifying the root cause and culprit of the problem, God gave the Israelites a guideline to follow.

The following morning, as God instructed, Joshua called all the people and arranged them. Achan was among them but never willingly confessed. His tribe was taken, then his family and then his household until he himself “was taken“. Even then, he did not want to admit that the process had led to the right choice until Joshue said, “make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done“. Then he began confessing. “And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done” Joshua 7:2O). He explained the process on how he saw, coveted, took and hid the accursed things. Then, Joshua sent people to go and bring the stolen items.

It is very unfortunate to see that not only Achan was punished but his entire family. Of course, who among them could deny knowing that Achan stole those things? After all, he hid them in his tent. While he was digging and covering it in his tent, any of his family could have seen it and covered it up (Joshua 7:25,26). This serves as a warning to all youths. God does not want us to partake in the sins of others; neither does He want us to Cover up their evil deeds. The Scripture says, “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked (Isaiah 48:22). The only solution is repentance. “.. behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Take that decision now before it is too late.

3. GOD’S STRATEGY TO CONQUER AI (Joshua 8:1-29; 1 Samuel 30:6-8; Job 12:12, 13; Proverbs 4:7)

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land” (Joshua 8:1). Due to the loss
and defeat in the previous battle, God needed to stir up the faith of Joshua and, by extension, the whole of Israel. The Lord, therefore, spoke to Joshua to have faith and trust in His ability to help him defeat Ai in accordance with His promise.

Accordingly, Joshua immediately gathered his people together and strategized with the leaders. In this strategy was the selection of warriors. The warriors selected were prepared for the battle. In his plot against the enemy, he sent thirty thousand men to lie in wait at different borders against the city. Joshua did not undermine the power of the enemies. He also ensured that he put in place the right strategy to defeat Ai.

Question 5: Why should a believer learn to ask God for directions?

Many youths often undermine the great benefits of asking for God’s will in taking decisions that affect their careers, life and future. They often rely on the pieces of advice of friends and loved ones without seeking the face of the Lord. God delights to guide us
in the right path. He alone understands tomorrow and can guide everyone who believes in Him. God knows the end from the beginning and if we can come to Him, He says, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).

As they approached the enemies, Joshua and the people with him appeared to be fleeing from the enemies. The king of Ai and his people who did not have any form of divine guidance did not know that this was a battle strategy. They ran after Joshua and the people with him and tried to see if they could destroy them like before. However, the other soldiers who were hiding entered the undefended city and set it ablaze. Planning is very essential. When done in obedience to God, we are able to achieve much. Joshua was able to defeat the city because he obeyed God and planned well.

Question 6: What can Christian leaders learn from Joshua?

The leadership ability of Joshua stands as a challenge to Christian leaders today. Joshua was bold in his decision. He did not allow the previous defeat to stand in his way after he received the mandate from God. He also did not leave the soldiers to fight alone: he got involved in the battle. Christian leaders should be in the forefront of the battle in winning souls, praying and other services in the vineyard. Joshua was prudent in his conduct and did not leave anything to chance. His strategy was detailed and self-explanatory. He did not leave the people without a sense of direction. He cared for he was involved in the lives of his people and ensured toughest part of the battle. Joshua was also steadfast and never gave up. The people of Israel were also great followers. In spite of their number, the previous defeat, their seemingly lack of proper knowledge of the battleground and the new strategy to be deployed, they trusted their leader and followed his plans.

“For Joshua drew not back his hand, wherewith he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai” (Joshua 8:26). As Ai was captured, Joshua, following the instruction given, ensured that all the men, women,  children were destroyed. The king there was also publicly punished. Thus, Israel attained victory as the Lord had promised. God wants every one of us to be diligent and steadfast. He wants us to be consecrated fully to Him and ensure that our lives and all we have are dedicated to His service (Romans 12:1).

“And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursing, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel…” Joshua’s success was due to his faithfulness to every part of the law that was committed to him. He did not keep any part of the Word from the people. He exposed all the words of the law to all categories of the people: adults, children, old, young, citizens, strangers, ordinary people, leaders, men and women. For Joshua, both the promises and the punishment for disobedience to the Word were necessary because “Every word of God is pure” (Proverbs 30:5).