THE SORROW OF SECRET SIN – Joshua 7:1-26

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on October 9, 2013 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group; October 9, 2013

Joshua 7:1-26

Theme: It’s important to expose and deal with secret sin; because sin in one of us affects all of us.

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

God desires for us to enjoy a continuous experience of victory through Christ. But sin interrupts that victory. Sometimes, it is interrupted by our own sin. But because we are a body, it can also be interrupted by secret sin within our own midst. We would like to think that we are—each one—an ‘island’ unto ourselves; but as Paul teaches us, we are “the body of Christ and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). We are so inseparably joined together in Christ that secret sin in one of us impacts the whole. As Paul wrote, “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (v. 26).

The story found in Joshua 7 shows us why it is so important that secret sin be lovingly but resolutely confronted, confessed and thoroughly removed from our midst. It teaches us the vital spiritual lesson that sin in one of us affects all of us; and impedes our experience of victory in Christ.

I. THE DEFEAT AT AI (vv. 1-5).

A. Chapter 6 tells us of the remarkable victory at Jericho. The very beginning of Chapter 7, however, tells us of a sad failure. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things . . .” (v. 1a). This is a reference to the command that God gave the people of Israel in Joshua 6:18. In conquering Jericho, the people were consecrate the silver and gold and vessels made of precious metal and bring them into the treasury of the Lord. But they were not to take for themselves anything of the ‘accursed’ things—that is, all that was under the ban and destined for destruction. And notice that even though it was “the children of Israel” who were said to have sinned, we’re told, “for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel” (v. 1b). One person’s sin brought God’s displeasure upon the whole nation.

B. The evidence of God’s anger upon the people was revealed when they sought to defeat a seemingly small Canaanite community called Ai—much smaller than Jericho. They exhibited a measure of self-confident pride in thinking that only a small army was necessary; and Joshua exhibited a measure of presumption in the fact that he didn’t bother to ask God for counsel or leading. Perhaps if Joshua had asked the Lord first, he would have been spared the loss. But as it was, the tiny village of Ai killed 36 of Israel’s soldiers and chased the rest away. We’re told that “the hearts of the people melted and became like water” (v. 5b). We’re never in greater danger of defeat than immediately after a great victory—when our hearts are lifted up with too much confidence and not enough humility before God.

II. THE CALL FOR EXAMINATION (vv. 6-15).

A. Perhaps if Joshua had prayed in humility before seeking to conquer Ai, he wouldn’t have had to pray in humiliation afterward. But as it was, he—along with the elders of Israel—prayed in great humiliation and sorrow at this defeat. But note two of his great concerns in his prayer. He was concerned that the removal of God’s hand from them would inspire the enemies of Israel and embolden them to “cut off our name from the earth” (v. 9a). But he was also concerned for God’s reputation: “Then what will You do for Your great name?” (v. 9b). In this respect, his prayer was like the prayer of Moses when God threatened to destroy the people after they built the golden calf (Exodus 23:11-13).

B. God responded by telling Joshua, “Why do you lie thus on your face?” (v. 10). It was no longer a time for humbling. It was a time for action. God told him that “Israel has sinned”; and specified that they had taken of the accursed things and hid them in their midst. It was for this reason that God removed His hand of blessing from them and they suffered defeat. He would no longer help them unless the accursed things were destroyed from among them. God didn’t tell him, however, who it was. He called for a search to be done—by tribe, and by family, and by household, and man by man—until the guilty person was identified. Then, that person and all that he had was to be burned with fire—perhaps being made to suffer the destruction intended for the accursed things because he had identified himself with them. It’s interesting that God caused this search to be performed. Perhaps God wanted to give the guilty person time to come forward on his own; and perhaps God wanted the people to do a searching of their own hearts. “Search me, O God,” Kind David wrote, “and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).

III. THE SECRET EXPOSED (vv. 16-21).

A. Early the next morning, the examination was conducted—and the man Achin was identified. It’s interesting that Achan’s name means “Troubler”. Joshua confronted him; saying, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me” (v. 19). And Achan confessed all. “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it” (vv. 20-21).

B. We can’t congratulate Achan on this confession. Think of what hardness of heart it must have taken to have watched thirty-six soldiers die, and the entire army of Israel run, and the leaders of his people cry out in humiliation to God—knowing that it was because of what he had kept hidden willfully in his tent. Think of what hardness of heart it must have taken to stand by silently while all the tribes of the people were examined for this sin. He only confessed when he had no choice. God would surely have forgiven him if he had confessed willingly. But this was what the law of God described as a sin “with a high hand”; that is, presumptuously (Numbers 15:30-31). As Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” The more we keep hidden sin covered, the harder our hearts grow toward turning from it.

IV. THE SIN REMOVED (vv. 22-26).

A. Joshua sent messengers to look; and they indeed found the items that Achan had taken in his tent. Perhaps to confirm the matter, it was all brought out before the children of Israel, and laid out before the Lord. We’re told that Achan was taken out to what later became called “the Valley of Achor” (that is, the Valley of Trouble)—along with the items he took, and all that he owned, and even his sons and his daughters. It must be that his sons and daughters were complicit with his action—just as Sapphira was complicit with the deception of her husband Ananias in Acts 5:1-11. It’s interesting to note, though, that Achan’s wife is not mentioned. It may be because she was not living; but it may also be because she was not guilty.

B. True to his name, Achan had brought great trouble on the people of Israel by his secret sin. So Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” All the people stoned Achan and his guilty household with stones, then burned them with fire. They even raised a monument of stones over them—still there at the time of Joshua’s writing. This may seem harsh, but it could not be said to have been unjust. We’re told that the Lord turned from His anger as a result of it.

* * * * * * * * * *

Praise God that we live today in the age of grace. But the holy character of our God has not changed—and never will. He will not walk with us in paths of unconfessed and hidden sin (1 John 1:5-7). It’s as true today as it was in Joshua’s day—”If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18). How much better to confess and repent immediately.

And if we indeed do turn from hidden sin, then—as Hosea 2:15 tells us—then God gives us “the Valley of Achor as a door of hope”. As King David wrote in Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”