Welcome, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a joy to gather with you in this sacred space, where the Word of God is our guide and His Spirit our comforter. We are here today, not by accident or happenstance, but by divine appointment. God has a message for us, a message that will challenge us, yet ultimately draw us closer to Him.
We turn our attention today to the Book of Joshua, specifically chapter 7, verses 1 through 26. It's a passage that might not be as familiar as others, but it is one that carries a profound and timely message for us all. It tells a tale of secret sins, of transgressions hidden in the dark, away from the eyes of men, but not from the all-seeing gaze of God. It's a narrative that reminds us of the inevitable consequences that follow such hidden sins, consequences that affect not just the individual, but the entire community.
[Title: No Place to Hide from God]
In the words of the great Christian theologian, J.I. Packer, "There's a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him." This is the heart of our study today. It's about truly knowing God, about understanding His nature as the all-seeing, all-knowing God, and about finding contentment in His righteous judgment, even when it brings to light our hidden sins.
But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.
Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai.
Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent;
therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—
to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth.
Then what will You do for Your great name?” So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived;
and they have also put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.
Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.” In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes.
And it shall be that the tribe which the Lord takes shall come according to families; and the family which the Lord takes shall come by households; and the household which the Lord takes shall come man by man. Then it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire,
he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.’ ” So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. He brought the clan of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites;
and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. Then he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him,
and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels,
I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.” So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel,
and laid them out before the Lord. Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us?
The Lord will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.
It's a lengthy passage, filled with drama, suspense, and ultimately, divine justice. But what does it mean for us today? How does it speak into our lives, into our struggles, our victories, our failures? These are the questions we will seek to answer today.
Secret Sins Unveiled
In the passage we've just read, we see a man named Achan. He's not a prominent figure, not a king or a prophet. He's an ordinary man, much like you and me. But Achan has a secret. He's taken something that wasn't his to take, something that was devoted to God. He thought no one would find out. He thought he could keep it hidden. But God saw. God knew. And God's anger burned against Israel because of Achan's sin.
This is our first lesson from this passage. No sin is truly hidden from God. We might be able to hide our sins from our friends, our family, even from ourselves. But we can't hide them from God. He sees all, knows all. And He cares about our sins, even the ones we think are small or insignificant. Because sin, no matter how small, is a rejection of God's authority, a declaration that we know better than Him.
Achan's sin had consequences, not just for him, but for the whole nation. When the Israelites went to battle against the city of Ai, they were defeated. They couldn't understand why. They had been victorious in their previous battles. Why were they now facing defeat? The answer was Achan's sin. His secret sin had brought defeat and disaster to the whole community.
This is our second lesson. Our sins affect others, not just ourselves. We might think our sins are our own business, that they don't hurt anyone else. But that's not true. Our sins can bring pain and suffering to those around us, even when we don't realize it. And they can bring judgment on our whole community, just as Achan's sin brought judgment on the Israelites.
When Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, found out about Achan's sin, he confronted him. Achan confessed his sin, admitting that he had taken the devoted things. But his confession came too late. The damage has already been done. The Israelites had already suffered defeat. Achan and his family were stoned to death, a severe punishment for his sin.
At first, I thought that the punishment did not fit the crime, but then I realized that Achan and his family were being punished for the death of the thirty-six men who died because of his sin. Here we can see how our sins can affect the lives of others.
This is our third lesson. Confession is important, but it's not enough to just confess our sins. We also need to repent, to turn away from our sins and turn back to God. Achan confessed his sin, but he didn't have the chance to repent. His sin had already brought judgment on him and his family. We can confess and repent before it's too late, before our sins bring judgment on us and those around us.
Finally, we see in this passage that God is just. He doesn't overlook sin, no matter who commits it. He doesn't play favorites. Achan was from the tribe of Judah, the same tribe that would later produce King David and ultimately, Jesus Himself. But that didn't protect him from God's judgment. God is just, and He punishes sin, no matter who commits it.
This is our fourth lesson. God is just, and His justice reflects His love. He loves us too much to let us continue in our sin. He loves us too much to let us suffer the consequences of our sin without offering us a way out. That way out is through Jesus, who took the punishment for our sins on the cross. Through Him, we can find forgiveness and freedom from our sins, even the ones we've tried to keep hidden.
So, as we reflect on this passage, let's remember these lessons. No sin is truly hidden from God. Our sins affect others, not just ourselves. Confession is important, but we also need to repent. And God is just, punishing sin but also offering us a way out through Jesus. Let's not be like Achan, trying to hide our sins and suffering the consequences. Instead, let's confess our sins, repent, and turn to Jesus for forgiveness and freedom.
God's All-Seeing Nature
In the heart of this passage, we find a God who sees everything. His gaze penetrates the deepest recesses of our hearts, the darkest corners of our souls. Nothing is hidden from Him. This is a truth that is both comforting and sobering. Comforting because we know that God sees our struggles, our pain, our efforts to live righteously. Sobering because we know that He also sees our failures, our shortcomings, our sins.
The story of Achan in Joshua 7 is a stark reminder of this truth. Achan thought he could hide his sin from his fellow Israelites. He thought he could bury his transgression in the ground, and no one would be the wiser. But God saw. God knew. And God acted.
This brings us to the first point we need to consider. God's all-seeing nature is not a passive attribute. It's not like He's a distant observer, watching our lives unfold from afar. No, God is actively involved in our lives. He sees our sins and He responds to them. In Achan's case, God's response was swift and severe. The Israelites were defeated in battle, and lives were lost, Achan was exposed, and he and his family were stoned to death.
This might seem harsh to our modern sensibilities. But we need to remember that God's actions are always just. He sees the full picture, the entire context. He knows the impact of our sins, not just on ourselves, but on those around us. And He acts accordingly.
The second point we need to consider is that God's all-seeing nature is not limited to our actions. He also sees our motives, our intentions, our thoughts.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
This means that even if we manage to hide our sins from others, even if we manage to convince ourselves that we're not really doing anything wrong, we can't hide from God. He sees our hearts. He knows our true motives. And He judges accordingly.
The third point we need to consider is that God's all-seeing nature is not a threat, but a promise. It's a promise that our sins will not go unnoticed, that our transgressions will not go unpunished. But it's also a promise that our efforts to live righteously will not go unrewarded, that our struggles to follow God's commands will not go unaided. God sees everything. And He responds with justice and mercy.
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
Psalm 139:1-3
This passage reminds us that God's sight is not limited by time or space. He sees everything, everywhere, always, and He knows you better than you know yourself.
This understanding of God's all-seeing nature should lead us to live with integrity and authenticity. We can't hide from God. We can't pretend to be something we're not. We can't fool Him with our outward appearances or our empty words. God sees our hearts. He knows our true selves. And He calls us to live in accordance with His commands, not just in public, but in private, not just in our actions, but in our thoughts and motives.
Finally, we need to remember that God's all-seeing nature is not an excuse for us to judge others. Just because God sees everything doesn't mean we do. We don't have the full picture. We don't know the entire context. We don't see the heart. Only God does. So, let's leave the judging to Him. Instead, let's focus on living righteously, on confessing our sins, on seeking His forgiveness, and on extending His grace to others.
Consequences of Hidden Transgressions
As we move forward, we find ourselves faced with the stark reality of the consequences of hidden transgressions. The things we do in secret, those actions we believe are hidden from the world, are never hidden from God. This is a truth that should not only humble us but also challenge us to live lives of transparency and honesty.
The first aspect we need to consider is the personal impact of hidden transgressions. When we harbor secret sins, we create a barrier between ourselves and God. This barrier hinders our spiritual growth and can lead to a sense of spiritual emptiness. We may find ourselves feeling distant from God, struggling to connect with Him in prayer or worship. This is because our hidden sins have created a chasm that only confession and repentance can bridge. The Psalmist understood this when he wrote:
I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
Psalm 66:17-18
It's a sobering reminder that our secret sins have personal consequences that can affect our relationship with God. We can say some excellent things in prayer, but God will not hear them until you have confessed and repented of your sins.
In the words of the respected Christian writer, C.S. Lewis, "We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito." This quote beautifully captures the reality that we cannot hide from God, and it is in our best interest to live openly and honestly before Him.
The second aspect to consider is the communal impact of hidden transgressions. Our actions, even those done in secret, can have far-reaching effects on those around us. This is particularly true within the context of a faith community. When one member of the body sins, the entire body suffers. This is a theme that is repeated throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament narratives to the New Testament epistles. The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, uses the metaphor of a body to illustrate this point. If one part of the body suffers, every part suffers with it (1 Corinthians 12:26). This means that our hidden sins can cause harm and pain to those around us, even if they are unaware of the specific transgression.
The third aspect is the inevitable exposure of hidden transgressions. Scripture makes it clear that nothing is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13
This means that our secret sins will eventually be brought to light. This can be a terrifying prospect, but it is also a call to confession and repentance. It's a call to bring our sins out of the darkness and into the light, where they can be dealt with appropriately.
Lastly, we must consider the redemptive potential of exposed transgressions. When our sins are brought to light, it is not for the purpose of shaming or condemnation. Rather, it is an opportunity for confession, repentance, and restoration. God's desire is not to expose our sins for the sake of exposure, but to lead us to a place of repentance and restoration. This is the heart of the gospel message, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This means that even in the exposure of our hidden sins, there is hope and redemption available to us.
So, brothers and sisters, let us take these truths to heart. Let us examine our lives, confess our sins, and seek God's forgiveness. Let us strive to live lives of transparency and honesty, knowing that our secret sins are never hidden from God. Let us remember the personal and collective impact of our transgressions and let us embrace the redemptive potential of exposed sins. Let us live as people of the light, not of the darkness.
Conclusion
As we close today, let's remember that our God is a God of love, but also a God of justice. He sees all, knows all, and yet, His love for us is unchanging. Even when we falter, even when we hide our sins in the dark, His love remains. But He calls us to step into the light, to confess our sins, and to seek His forgiveness. And when we do, we find that His grace is sufficient, His mercy is overwhelming, and His love is unending.
We've learned today that hidden sins have consequences, not just for us, but for those around us as well. But we've also learned that God's love is greater than any sin we could ever commit. He's not waiting to punish us, but to forgive us, to cleanse us, and to restore us. That's the kind of God we serve, a God who loves us so much that He gave His only Son to pay the price for our sins.
