Tragedy of Achen
My kitchen sink is evil. No matter what we do, it gets clogged. We will unclog it and then over time the flow gets slower and slower until finally it backs up.
Now comes the problem, how do you fix the clog? Well, we have this step therapy. We try plungers, we try this device that sucks on the pipe. Then we take off the p-trap and we have this thing with a rubber bubble on it when you turn the water hose on, it expands and so pressurizes the pipe and tries to push anything through. This usually works and avoids having to call the plumber but at some point we have to call the plumber.
So anyway this week we had to do the p-trap and water hose thing. When we run it, it pressurizes, but when you turn the water off it pushes all that water back and it also pushes back a lot of nasty smelling stuff. Now I don’t know what that stuff is but it is atomic stuff and you do not want to touch it or worse get it in your eyes or mouth or really touch it at all if you can help it.
He’s going to make a comparison to sin? Yes, it is like ugly sin! Sin is so ugly!
Now everyone has secrets and you think your secret sin doesn’t really hurt anyone? Just remember that sink. I rarely use that sink but it sure is hurting me! And you think, you can fix this sin yourself? You can try but sin is very strong. You need someone greater to help you out and rid you stinky ugly clog.
Joshua 7:1 Achan’s Sin
1 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things ; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.
He thought no one would see his secret sin.
Joshua 7:2 Only 2 or 3 thou men needed
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.”
There’s some problems here of course
They didn’t consult God first - they just went on their own
When my daughters were young I remember coming out of a store and I stopped at the curb and my oldest stopped but my youngest kept walking. Now there wasn’t a car but if there were that would have been a disaster.
Similarly, you don’t want to go where the Lord is not! Stick with Him. When He goes you go. When He stops you stop!
Joshua 7:4-9 Israel routed
4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”
Now why did little Ai beat Israel?
Because there was a secret sin in the camp.
You’ve heard people say that their sins don’t hurt anybody else? I beg to differ!
Numbers 32:23
23 “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.
Joshua 7:10-18 Focus Achan
10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. 13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. 14 “ ‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the LORD chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the LORD chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the LORD chooses shall come forward man by man. 15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’ ” 16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. 18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.
Have you ever been found out? Oh it’s not fun. It’s better to admit it up front that to try to hide what you have done. Even better not to do it, tho, right?
Joshua 7:18-26 The death of Achan
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD. 24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.
Achor means Trouble - sort of a play on the name Achan.
Not only Achan but his sons, daughters, animals and all that he had and stoned and burned them up. Wow, that’s some punishment!
Achan suffered sorely!
Now what about our sin? Will this happen to us too?
He saw, he coveted, he took.
Sin has its consequences! Not only to you but to others too! You will be punished and others will suffer because of you too? So stop sinning, if not for yourself but for those loved ones and friends around you!
Hosea 2 Hosea’s unfaithful wife Gomer
Just as Gomer was punished for her sinful ways, God’s people will be punished for sins.
But after punishment, then restored, then in the end times will be the bride and He will be our Husband. Good and good times will be restored.
Hosea 2 After the punishment He will bring Gomer (us) back a door of hope
13 I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot,” declares the LORD. 14 “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. 15 There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
It shows that God has a way of turning a valley of trouble into a door of hope.
