And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
Joshua 7:24-25 (ESV)
The seventh chapter of Joshua recounts the story of one man’s disobedience and the devastating consequences it had for his family and the nation. Israel had been told to destroy Jericho totally. But Achan disobeyed and kept some of the loot for himself. It was an individual action that involved no one but himself.
But it cost the lives of 36 men when Israel was defeated at the next battle (Josh. 7:4-5). While mourning their loss, God told Joshua that Israel had sinned. Achan’s sin was considered the sin of the community (Josh. 7:1, 10-12)—they were all suffering because of what he had done. In the end, Achan paid for his sin with his life. But not just Achan. All that was his, including his family, were also killed.
Is it fair that 36 died and Israel was defeated in battle because one man sinned? Is it fair that Achan’s family was killed because of his actions? I suspect that many of us would struggle with trying to justify what took place here. I know I do.
My Actions Impact Others
But in doing so, we can miss the greater point. I am not an island. I am a part of something bigger than myself. It could be a family, a church, a business, or a nation. And the health of the whole is impacted by the health of each of its parts. My personal sin can have a far-reaching impact, reaching beyond me to those I am connected with. The consequence may not be as dramatic as with Achan, but they are there nonetheless.
Something else to note about this story is that it served as a lesson to Israel. The heap of stones that Achan and his family were buried under, and the name of the valley where it happened, remained as a witness to what had happened there. Long after Israel was settled in the land, they would be reminded of the far-reaching consequences of personal sin when they saw that memorial (Josh. 7:26).
