The Destruction of The Stolen Goods
December 23, 2021
Commentary
Since God was the only one who knew who had sinned He chose to reveal the culprit by the method of drawing lots (vv. 16-18). As the lots were drawn one by one they fell on the tribe of Judah, the family of the Zarhites, the household of Zabdi and finally on the trespasser himself, Achan. Joshua addressed Achan tenderly, but firmly (v. 19). Although he hated the sin, he did not despise the sinner. Achan’s response was straightforward and complete (vv. 20-21). He confessed his sin and gave no excuses. However, he did not express any sorrow for having disobeyed God’s Word or causing the defeat of Israel’s army and the death of 36 men. Joshua had some people run to Achan’s tent, where they found the silver, the gold, and the robe(vv. 22-24). They brought them back and put them in front of the sacred chest, so Joshua and the rest of the Israelites could see them.
The condition for restored favor with God was the destruction of the stolen goods and the death of Achan. As Achan’s crime had cast a shadow across the nation, so now “all Israel” participated in the stoning of the man and his entire family (v. 25). No trace of his flagrant act of revolt was permitted to remain. They raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day (v. 26).
Basically, Achan was caught in the same web of materialism that we face in our day. It is estimated that the average American is bombarded by 1700 advertisements per day by the various forms of the media. The philosophy behind these advertisements is that we will only have complete, fulfilled and satisfied lives if we drive this car, use this hair spray or drink this beverage. Jesus warns us in Luke 12:15 – “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
Application
Achan had disobeyed God’s command to destroy everything in Jericho; thus everything that belonged to Achan had to be destroyed. Sin has drastic consequences, so I should take drastic measures in my life to avoid it.
Joshua 7:16– 26 (NET)
16 Bright and early the next morning Joshua made Israel approach in tribal order, and the tribe of Judah was selected. 17 He then made the clans of Judah approach, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He made the clan of the Zerahites approach, and Zabdi was selected. 18 He then made Zabdi’s family approach man by man and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was selected. 19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, honor the Lord God of Israel and give him praise! Tell me what you did; don’t hide anything from me.” 20 Achan told Joshua, “It is true. I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel in this way: 21 I saw among the goods we seized a nice robe from Babylon, 200 silver pieces, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels. I wanted them, so I took them. They are hidden in the ground right in the middle of my tent, with the silver underneath.”
22 Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent. The things were hidden right in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took it all from the middle of the tent, brought it to Joshua and all the Israelites, and placed it before the Lord. 24 Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, oxen, donkeys, sheep, tent, and all that belonged to him and brought them up to the Valley of Disaster. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought disaster on us? The Lord will bring disaster on you today!” All Israel stoned him to death. (They also stoned and burned the others.) 26 Then they erected over him a large pile of stones (it remains to this very day) and the Lord’s anger subsided. So that place is called the Valley of Disaster to this very day.