Achan: The Progression From Temptation to Sin
Dust lingered in the air like a curtain, and smoke plumed heavenward. Achan wiped his brow with the back of his hand and sheathed his sword. The battle of Jericho was over.
God’s command had been clear. Everything in the city was devoted to the Lord. No plunder was to be taken.
Achan moved through the rubble as an eerie silence fell over the destroyed city. All around him, remnants of the once-formidable fortress lay scattered.
Achan: A Lesson on the Progression Into Sin
Among the rubbish, Achan spotted something beautiful, untouched by the flames: a colorful Babylonian robe.
Reaching down to touch the unmarred garment, a thought passed through his mind: Why let such an exquisite object be wasted?
Before he’d fully thought through it, the robe was rolled under his outer tunic, a souvenir of victory.
As he continued walking through the fallen city, his eyes scanned the earth. What else might be hiding in the debris?
Achan hadn’t gone far when the glimmer of silver caught his eye from beneath a pile of fallen beams. Adding it to his hidden collection, he continued walking, searching.
In the chaos, another trophy caught his attention. A wedge of gold caught the light. He added it to the bounty.
No one needed to know.
Why should it all be burned?
His desire warmed into justification.
Achan Hides the Plunder
Back in his tent, beneath the ground where his family slept, he buried his treasure.
No one had seen.
But heaven hadn’t missed a moment. God knew.
Achan saw.
He coveted.
He sinned.
In that quiet sequence, the soldier who had marched in victory planted the seed of defeat.
The Deadly Consequences
The hidden treasures were still buried under Achan’s tent when Joshua, the leader of Israel, sent soldiers to attack the small city of Ai. After Jericho, it should have been an easy victory. Only a few thousand soldiers went to battle.
But something was wrong.
The men of Ai fought fiercely. Israel’s soldiers turned and fled down the arid slopes. Thirty-six men died, and fear spread through the camp. Why had God brought them to Canaan to be defeated?
Joshua tore his clothes in grief before the Lord.
“Why, Lord?” he cried.
The Lord answered with words that chilled Joshua’s heart.
“Israel has sinned.”
Somewhere in the camp, someone had stolen what was devoted to God.
Achan Is Called Out
Early the next morning, the entire nation gathered. Tribe by tribe, they stood before the Lord.
A lot was cast, and it fell on the tribe of Judah.
Each clan from the tribe stepped forward. The lot fell on the clan of the Zerahites.
Then each family stepped forward. The lot fell on the household of Zabdi.
Finally, each man stepped forward. The lot fell on Achan.
Joshua’s eyes were filled with sorrow as he looked at him. “My son, give glory to the Lord. Tell me what you have done.”
Achan confessed, admitting to his crime.
Messengers went to the tent, finding the stolen plunder. In an act of purification, Achan and his family were stoned to death. Everything he owned was brought and burned to remove the sin from Israel.
The valley would forever be known as the Valley of Achor, the Valley of Trouble.
Lessons From Achan
What can we learn from Achan? Let’s look at some lessons from his story.
1. The most dangerous battles are not fought against walls of stone, but within human hearts.
Israel had just conquered the formidable fortress of Jericho. The victory was claimed.
Meanwhile, the greater battle was taking place in the hearts of God’s people. Would they obey him, or would their desire for material possessions overcome them?
We all face temptation.
We win the battle by turning to God for help, seeking accountability from others, and fleeing from temptation.
The most dangerous battles are not fought against walls of stone, but within human hearts. #faith #trust #obey Share on X
2. There is a progression from temptation into sin.
Temptation begins with seeing. We see the allure of something sinful.
The second step involves desire. We allow ourselves to move out of alignment with God, embracing the desires of the flesh as we crave that which will only leave us empty.
When desire is left unchecked, it gives way to sin.
For this reason, cutting off temptation at the “seeing” and “desiring” phases is crucial for victory.
3. Hidden sin is never truly private.
Achan thought he could hide his sin. In the same way, we can fall into sin under the belief that “no one will know.”
Meanwhile, nothing is hidden from God. He is a good Father, and he sees the thoughts, attitudes, and actions that threaten to destroy our lives. Sin always destroys. When God exposes sin, he does so to heal us, not to punish us.
4. God can redeem the Valley of Trouble.
In Hosea 2:15, God promises to turn the Valley of Trouble into a “door of hope.” The very place associated with trouble would become a symbol of restoration.
This symbolic promise declared that places associated with trouble, sin, and judgment can be renewed and restored in Christ.
Isaiah also mentioned the Valley of Trouble, describing it as a place where God’s restored people would dwell in peace (Isaiah 65:10).
Let’s take a moment to reflect. In what way has the sequence of seeing and desiring led you down the wrong path? What is God revealing about turning to him in moments of temptation?
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If this exploration of the life of Achan blessed you, I invite you to explore our family devotional books and library of free devotionals and eBooks below. May God grant you victory in life’s battles!
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. Also, they are free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
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