Joshua 7
A part of Israel’s army went against a small city, called Ai, but they were driven away and some of the men killed. This defeat made all Israel discouraged: for God had said they should win over all the cities of Canaan.
So Joshua prayed to God to know the reason of this: God told him that there had been sin; that His command had been disobeyed. Before the men of Israel had gone into Jericho, God had said they should not take anything there for themselves, but could take of the gold, silver, iron and brass for use in the tabernacle.
Joshua called all the men together for the Lord to show who had disobeyed; the Lord showed it was a man named Achan. Joshua asked Achan what he had done, and he said he had seen a fine garment in Jericho which he wanted, and took, and also much silver and a large wedge of gold, and had hidden thou in the ground inside his tent.
This was a sad way to do—should not Achan have known that the One Who had brought them across Jordan, and made the walls of Jericho fall, was wise to know the right commands to give, and was worthy to be obeyed? He had not only taken the garment for himself, but the sinner and gold, which was to be used for the tabernacle, and had not confessed his sin until God had shown it.
Joshua sent men to Achan’s tent, where they found the things hidden. Then he, and those with him, were taken to a place where they were put to death. The stolen things were taken there also, and a great heap of stones piled up as a warning to all. The sons and daughters of Achan must have been old enough to know of and to help keep the stolen things, or else they would not have been punished, for the law said no one should be put to death for another’s sin (Deut. 24:1616The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. (Deuteronomy 24:16)).
We learn by this sad story that God cannot help or bless His people if they disobey Him, and do not confess the wrong.
Afterward God let the army of Israel take the city of Ai.
ML 04/03/1938