Year of the Bible: Part Four of Twelve Sample

The Sin of One Man.

Achan fought the battle of Jericho with Joshua. God had instructed his people to destroy the entire city of Jericho because of its great sin. God had also asked that they take nothing from Jericho and for everything in it to be "devoted to destruction." God warned that anyone taking spoils from Jericho would make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble to it.

God was dealing with people groups who were evil, almost beyond what we can imagine today: "You must not worship the Lord your God the way the other nations worship their gods, for they perform for their gods every detestable act that the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods". (Deuteronomy 12:31)

God destroyed Jericho, but He saved Rahab and her family in response to Rahab's faith (Joshua 6:25; Hebrews 11:31). Everyone obeyed, except for one man named Achan. He stole a robe and some gold and silver and hid these things in his tent. God commanded that Achan and his entire family and all his possessions be destroyed.

Achan's sin affected the entire nation of Israel. In Joshua 7:1, God says that "the Israelites" acted unfaithfully and that His anger burned "against Israel." The nation was in a covenant relationship with God, and when one member transgressed that covenant, the entire nation's relationship with Him was affected.

Achan's sin affected himself and the other members of the community. Achan's sin caused God's blessing on his people to be withheld in their battle against the city of Ai (Joshua 7:4-5). Thirty-six men who were not involved in Achan's actions died because of what he had chosen to do. He stole that which was devoted to destruction and, in doing so, brought destruction to others. We fool ourselves if we think our sin affects only us. Disobedience brings ruin even upon the innocent.

Later, the Valley of Achor, the scene of all of this trouble, is called "a door of hope" to the future restored nation: "There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt" (Hosea 2:15).

When communion with God is restored, there is hope for the future. The past troubles are replaced with present blessings: "Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for my people who seek me." (Isaiah 65:10). This story of Achan is distressing and hopeless when disconnected from God's ability to redeem. Just like us, hopeless and ruined apart from the redeeming work of Jesus.
Question: What places of trouble do you need God to restore into a door of hope?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you have paid for all my mistakes and my wrong choices. I ask you to give me the wisdom to obey and choose well even when it is hard. Help me be selfless and think of others as you do. Teach me your ways. I ask that you turn the negative and painful circumstances into a door of hope even where I've created trouble for myself or others. Thank you, Jesus, that you are the door, and in you, I can have a life of abundance and walk in a way that will give life! Amen!