There’s an old adage I remember from my childhood that says, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, will keep you longer than you want to stay, and will cost you more than you want to pay.” The consequences of sin always outlast the pleasure of it. Read that statement again! It’s true, and most of us have the stories and scars to show for it. I’ve heard it said that a smart person will learn from his or her mistakes, but a truly wise person will learn from the mistakes of others. We have a chance to apply this adage with the Old Testament story of Joshua and Achan.
If we are wise, we will develop foresight, which is the ability to see past the pleasure of situations for the consequences on the other side.
Joshua assumed the role of theocratic administrator of Israel after Moses. In the very early days of Joshua’s leadership, Yahweh reminded him that He would be with him and that success in leading the people would depend not on his administrative and military skills alone but rather on his knowing and obeying God.
And Joshua experienced much success under God’s leading as Israel finally crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 3). After the successful crossing, the text states that Yahweh exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel. But the people of God would face one of their first tests of faith and devotion on the other side of the Jordan in a conquest to overthrow a fortified city called Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world.
In preparation for that battle, one in which Yahweh had already promised victory, Joshua exhorted the people to keep themselves from the “things devoted to destruction” and to make sure to take any silver and gold plunder and put it in the LORD’s treasury (Josh 6:18-19). This instruction was reminiscent of the warning Moses had given the children of Israel before they entered the Promised Land. He knew they would be tempted with all of the material blessings they would immediately experience. Back in Deuteronomy 7, Moses specifically charged the people not to covet the silver and gold or allow it to ensnare them, because doing so would result in them being devoted to destruction as well.
Now, in the conquest of Jericho, Yahweh was going to judge the people of Cannan as a symbolic representation of what happens when people defy His instructions. The inhabitants of this pagan city, likely a center of moon worship, would soon meet their fate as Yahweh used Joshua and his men of valor to completely and miraculously destroy Jericho.
But the thrill of victory was quickly replaced by the horrible realization that someone had indeed taken some silver, gold, and an expensive coat, and hid it all in their tent. Although it would soon come to light that a man named Achan was personally to blame, the entire nation of Israel was actually implicated and guilty just the same. The text states, “But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted thing” (Josh 7:1), and “Israel has sinned…transgressed my covenant…they have taken…they have stolen and lied” (7:10-11).
It wasn’t the amount that was stolen, even though commentators believe the coat, silver, and gold would have been the equivalent of a lifetime’s worth of wages for an average worker at that time. The issue was the fact that someone took and kept even the smallest item that was supposed to be either destroyed or turned over to the treasury. It was a failure on Achan’s part to believe Yahweh’s Word and to rely on His generosity.
It was a turning of Achan’s affections towards something else.
After an investigation, the truth came out, and Achan admitted what he had done. As a result, he was devoted to destruction like the citizens of Jericho, and he was promptly and publicly stoned to death by the same people he had impacted through his greed and covetousness. Yahweh then turned from His anger, and His people were reminded that He is a holy God and that there are always consequences for transgressing His commands.
This isn’t the first time we have considered the sin of greed and covetousness throughout these blog posts. So, here’s another reminder to pause and reflect on what the Lord is trying to teach us through this passage. The pattern of Achan’s sin is eerily similar to that of Eve’s in the garden—he saw, he coveted, he took. This is almost always the pattern for you and me today. We see things in ads, on billboards, on our phones, and immediately our idolatry-prone hearts say, “I want it!” Maybe it’s fame and notoriety. Maybe it’s a fancier car or a second home to impress others. Maybe it’s someone else’s spouse. Whatever it is, our society seems to intentionally target our greed reflex— and we often give in to the temptation to covet. Let’s be on the alert and be quick to confess this sin to the Lord.
The story of Achan’s sin is a weighty passage of Scripture but one that serves as a stark reminder that there are real consequences for sin. Remember, the consequences of sin always outlast the pleasure of it. May God be merciful in using His Word to shine a light on our own covetous hearts.
[Written by Dr. Bobo Beck, the author of Wisdom Calling and host of The Wisdom Calling Podcast, where he helps Christian professionals think more critically and live more strategically, all from a wisdom-based perspective. This discussion is adapted from Volume1/Devotional 21, Corporate Solidarity, which is part of the Wisdom Calling devotional series. For more information, visit www.wisdomcalling.org.]