Achan’s admission of guilt to Joshua teaches that hidden sin disrupts both personal and communal fellowship with God, requiring sincere confession and repentance as the only path to restoration.
“So Achan answered Joshua and said, ‘Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did:’ (Joshua 7:20)
In the days of Israel’s conquest of Canaan, around 1406 BC, Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River and into dramatic victories, such as the miraculous fall of Jericho (Joshua 6). Shortly thereafter, however, Israel suffered a surprising defeat at the city of Ai, prompting Joshua to seek the LORD’s guidance to discover where they had gone astray. When confronted, Achan answered Joshua and said, ‘Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel’ (Joshua 7:20). Here, Achan openly admits that he violated God’s command by secretly taking possessions set apart (the “ban”) from Jericho, thereby bringing God’s judgment upon Israel. Achan’s action is a stark reminder that disobedience to the LORD has community-wide consequences, illustrating how one person’s sin can bring calamity upon an entire group.In his confession, Achan’s words, “this is what I did” (Joshua 7:20), reveal the gravity of his guilt. He belonged to the tribe of Judah, a lineage significant for eventually producing Israel’s kings, including David, and because of God’s promise that the Messiah would be born from Judah (Genesis 49:10). Yet even this honored background did not shield Achan from moral failure. Historically, Achan’s sin occurred not long after the Israelites set up camp near Jericho. Having witnessed God’s mighty deliverance, Achan exhibited a lapse of faith. By taking forbidden objects, he valued earthly treasures above the LORD’s covenant. The place of punishment—later called the Valley of Achor, meaning “trouble”—would forever remind Israel of the grave offense against their covenant God.Achan’s confession underscores the LORD’s righteous standard and serves to bring closure to Israel’s failure at Ai. As Joshua confronted Achan, it became evident that God would not allow compromise in His people. The timing of Achan’s admission also highlights Joshua’s leadership in 15th-century BC Israel, showing that under faithful leadership, sin would be exposed and judged. This account foreshadows the New Testament principle that persistent hidden sin hinders the fullness of God’s blessing among His people (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). From Achan’s story, the Israelites learned the critical lesson that the holiness of God governs every aspect of their lives, requiring obedience and reverence.
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Joshua 7:20 meaning
“So Achan answered Joshua and said, ‘Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did:’ (Joshua 7:20)
In the days of Israel’s conquest of Canaan, around 1406 BC, Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River and into dramatic victories, such as the miraculous fall of Jericho (Joshua 6). Shortly thereafter, however, Israel suffered a surprising defeat at the city of Ai, prompting Joshua to seek the LORD’s guidance to discover where they had gone astray. When confronted, Achan answered Joshua and said, ‘Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel’ (Joshua 7:20). Here, Achan openly admits that he violated God’s command by secretly taking possessions set apart (the “ban”) from Jericho, thereby bringing God’s judgment upon Israel. Achan’s action is a stark reminder that disobedience to the LORD has community-wide consequences, illustrating how one person’s sin can bring calamity upon an entire group.In his confession, Achan’s words, “this is what I did” (Joshua 7:20), reveal the gravity of his guilt. He belonged to the tribe of Judah, a lineage significant for eventually producing Israel’s kings, including David, and because of God’s promise that the Messiah would be born from Judah (Genesis 49:10). Yet even this honored background did not shield Achan from moral failure. Historically, Achan’s sin occurred not long after the Israelites set up camp near Jericho. Having witnessed God’s mighty deliverance, Achan exhibited a lapse of faith. By taking forbidden objects, he valued earthly treasures above the LORD’s covenant. The place of punishment—later called the Valley of Achor, meaning “trouble”—would forever remind Israel of the grave offense against their covenant God.Achan’s confession underscores the LORD’s righteous standard and serves to bring closure to Israel’s failure at Ai. As Joshua confronted Achan, it became evident that God would not allow compromise in His people. The timing of Achan’s admission also highlights Joshua’s leadership in 15th-century BC Israel, showing that under faithful leadership, sin would be exposed and judged. This account foreshadows the New Testament principle that persistent hidden sin hinders the fullness of God’s blessing among His people (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). From Achan’s story, the Israelites learned the critical lesson that the holiness of God governs every aspect of their lives, requiring obedience and reverence.