Israel crossed Jordan and entered Canaan. The new generation growing up during the forty years of wilderness wanderings had to be circumcised (Josh. 5:2,3). Following that we find that in faith Israel went and conquered Jericho (Joshua 6). The next target was Ai. No one consulted God but sent out men to check out Ai. They came back with the report that Ai was small and there was no need to send many of their warriors. The first battle was won by Ai at the cost of the lives of 36 Israelites (Josh. 7:5). The result of this loss in battle caused all Israel to be shaken (Josh. 7:5-8).
Dying in battle was a real possibility any time that Israel went to war. The exemptions from having to go to battle all centered around a person may die in battle. When the walls fell in chapter six Israel had to go inside the city and engage the population in fighting. Hence it was not the number of men who died in the first battle of Ai but rather the effect he had on all of Israel that was the problem. The cause of the defeat, which should never happen if God was with them was as the Lord said, “Israel hath sinned… (Josh. 7:11). Now we have the cause.
When chapter seven opens up we are introduced to the man Achan. He fought in a battle in which he could have lost his life. He, along with his fellow Israelites, went in to Jericho to fight the people there. This man then does not reflect being a coward. Israel was to march around the city one time each day and not say a word or make a sound. On the seventh day, they were to march around seven times and at the signal of Joshua, to shout and the walls would fall. What do we find in those seven days? We find the man Achan being an obedient Israelite who marched in silence.
What do we know about his family life? We know he had children but no mention is made of his wife. We conclude then that his wife had passed away. The awesome task of raising children without a wife speaks once more of the courage which Achan was manifesting. Today in some Christian’s home, a wife or a husband has to carry the spiritual load because their help meet is not helping them. Still in other cases death enters and the mate is left. Raising children under either of these conditions calls for courage of the highest order.
At this point we find admirable characteristics of the man Achan. Chapter seven also shows us his demise. By his own words, he was guilty of being covetous (Josh. 7:21). He stole or took things which belonged to God. He understood how to be obedient as evidenced by his walking around the walls of Jericho in silence and then going in to fight those in the city. Faith can be revealed in a single act as with Abraham and Sarah and the birth of Isaac (Rom. 4:19). Faith for the most part however is a course in life instead of just one act. The man Achan demonstrated his obedience to God. When he took the Babylonian garment, shekels of silver and the wedge of gold, he stepped beyond the will of God. What was the cost of his decision? Thirty-six homes in Israel lost a husband, brother, uncle or friend. It likewise cost the lives of Achan and all his children, sons and daughters. A terrible price to pay for being covetous.
Why did his children have to die? The Bible makes it clear that the child will not die or suffer for what their parent did (Ezek. 18:20). They died because the items were buried in the middle of the tent and they were silent about what dad was doing. Ignoring sin in the lives of those we love will always have a terrible price attached to it. We are not speaking of death but rather the loss of faith in what God has said. The life of Achan like all the other material is written for our learning (Rom.15:4). Let us stay in school.