Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

WHAT DID ACHAN DO THAT WAS SO WRONG?

Joshua Chapter Seven

The battle of Jericho was the very first for Israel upon entering the Promised Land. The story is intriguing -- how God caused the mighty walls to fall down flat before His people. Then it was hand to hand combat, and the otherwise most capable warriors of Jericho were no match for Israel because God was with them. In the course of the battle, Achan spotted a wedge of gold and a goodly Babylonian garment, perhaps in one of the shops of Jericho. He wanted it and he took it. But is that not what conquering armies have always done? What did he do that was so wrong?

Achan directly transgressed the command of God. He commanded that they were not to take anything of the city for spoil. Had God not so commanded, there would have been nothing particularly wrong with his actions. But God did command, and Achan directly disobeyed. Was there a reason God commanded this on this occasion? Yes, but that is another story. It is enough that God commanded, even if there were no apparent reasons.

Achan knew he had done wrong. He dug a hole within his tent and buried the booty there. But what he had hidden from man, he had utterly failed to hide from God. Great and innocent men in Israel died in the next battle because of Achan's sin. Then when inquiry was made and Achan admitted his wrong, both he and his family, and all their belongings were destroyed. Is this over reaction? Is this unduly harsh? Hardly! It is the judgment of God and exactly as it should have been.

Similarly, we must know from these and other Old Testament examples that we cannot disobey God and get by with it. Even if it seems there will be no consequence, there certainly will be, and it will be harsh. Achan lost his life. He caused others to lose their lives. And so it still is. If we disobey God, we may well wind up at the judgment seat of Christ as those with nothing redeemable in their life. They shall be saved yet so as by fire. And what will happen to those whom we influence in the wrong ways? The possibilities are simply awful.

Since each of us has within him/her the potential of sinning in a similar manner as did Achan, let each one learn the high importance of agreeing with God, and doing His will in life. It makes for peace and joy here as well as hereafter.

FOR THOUGHT: Many see the punishment of Achan as unduly harsh. Do you? Why? Is such a sin as Achan’s as bad today as it was then? Will sins be as harshly judged before the Lord as they were back then? How important is it to you to study to obey the teachings of the Lord? What does Hebrews 10:26-31 mean to you?