July 3, 2011
Background Scripture: Joshua 7:1-8:29
Devotional Reading: Romans 6:1-11

Keep in mind that this passage from the Book of Joshua is of the Old Testament, not the New, and that the principal character is Joshua, not Jesus. Therefore, the birth, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ stand as a great chasm between this story and our story.

So we cannot and must not make Joshua’s story a positive example for the living of our lives. Holding Achan’s family responsible for his sin (7:22-26) and slaughtering the men, women and children of Ai (8:24-26), while part of the Old Testament, are not part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Still, there are some lessons we can learn from this episode. For one thing, Joshua’s story reminds us that there are consequences for sin. Even if we seek and receive God’s forgiveness (which does not appear in this story), sin usually brings hardship to someone.

If I get drunk and become involved in a violent automobile accident, I can confess my sin to God and ask for His forgiveness, but that will not bring back the life or well-being of someone I have killed or maimed. The Israelite Achan, the great-grandson of Zerah, by his disobedience was indirectly guilty of the deaths of those Israelites who participated in the unsuccessful attack on the city of Ai.

The cost of sin

The consequences of our disobedience may not be as drastic as that, but it usually causes harm to ourselves and others. Worst of all is when someone else has to suffer for our action or failure to act. The Israelite leadership not only held Achan responsible for his disobedience, but also his family and even the animals of his household (7:24).

This seems hard for us to understand, but in Joshua’s time there was an ancient “unitary view of society” wherein an entire group of people were held responsible for the acts of one of its members. Although this unitary concept is no longer the norm for our society, it is not unusual for it to occur. Sin always costs someone something, and the consequences must never be ignored or minimized.

Our lives can be outlined as a series of important choices we have made, although we may not have realized them as important at the time they were made. I sometimes look back over the various turning points in my life and contemplate how those choices affected me and others.

We would certainly cause less difficulty and sorrow for others and ourselves if we contemplated the effect of our choices before we make them. Something may seem profitable or enjoyable for me, but what will that mean for others?

The valley of Achor

The place where Achan and his family were taken for execution was the valley of Achor; the root of that name means “trouble.” For Achan and his family it certainly was the valley of great trouble.

We do not know whether Achan repented of his disobedience, but Achor became for him and his family the valley of death. The battle booty that he had hidden for himself was hardly worth walking that valley.

Sometimes we pay unforeseen consequences, but Achan knew the loot was forbidden. It was not just a mistake that he made, but a willful disobedience. He assumed he would not be caught, but he had forgotten that nothing is hidden from the sight of God, who knows the difference between honest mistakes and willful disobedience.

Often we tell ourselves that a particular sin won’t count. But, as psychologist William James says, we may not count it, “but it is being counted just the same. Down among his nerve cells and fibers the molecules are counting it, registering, storing it up to be used against him when the next temptation comes.”

It is thus that we enter the dark and trackless valley named “Trouble.”

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.