Daily Lesson for Monday 3rd of November 2025

Instead of unveiling the identity of the transgressor, God sets up a procedure that reveals both His justice and grace. After explaining the reason for Israel’s defeat and calling for the sanctification of the people (Joshua 7:13), He allows a time span between the announcement of the procedure and its application, which gives Achan time to think, repent, and confess his sin.

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Similarly, his family (if they knew what had happened) has the opportunity to decide whether they want to be involved in the cover-up or refuse to be accomplices, like the sons of Korah, who avoided destruction by refusing to side with their father (compare with Numbers 16:23-33, Numbers 26:11).

The solution to the predicament follows the opposite direction to how it entered and plagued Israel: corporate guilt is eliminated and narrowed down from Israel to one tribe; from tribe to family; from family to household; and from household to individuals. Besides revealing the offender, the investigative process also cleared the innocent. This was an equally important aspect of the meticulous juridical procedure, where God Himself acts as witness to the unseen acts of Achan.

The reader almost can feel the tension as God zeroes in on Achan. Who cannot wonder at the man’s obstinacy in hoping that he could go undetected? Nothing is concealed from the penetrating eyes of the Lord (Psalms 139:1-16, 2 Chronicles 16:9), who knows what is hidden in the heart of a man (1 Samuel 16:7, Jeremiah 17:10, Proverbs 5:21).

It is important to notice the way Joshua addressed Achan: “My son.” This expression shows not only the age and leadership role of Joshua but also reveals the spirit in which this great warrior approached justice. His heart was full of compassion for Achan, even though he was called to execute judgment on the offender. Through his attitude, Joshua was again foreshadowing the sensitivity, kindness, and love of the One who “was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. . . . He [Jesus] fearlessly denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 353.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25d-06-the-sin-of-achan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=25d-06-the-sin-of-achan