Day 97 -Joshua & Achan/Ai

Today’s passages are all in Joshua, and tell of the story of the aftermath of the battle at Jericho (including the tragic account of a man who didn’t listen to God) and the story of the Israelites’ next battle. The stories today are full of victory and defeat, battle plans and tactics, tragedy and victory, awful punishments and intriguing anecdotes. Settle down with a good drink and enjoy reading them!

• The battle of Jericho should have been a high point in Joshua’s leadership. But as soon as today’s passages open, we can see that things have gone quickly downhill. What sin has been committed at the battle of Jericho?
• What, specifically, did Achan do? Why do you think he did it?
• What struggles, as detailed in the battle account of Joshua 7:2-6, did the Israelites have because of the sin? What was Joshua’s response?
• Achan, the man who committed the sin, was just a normal guy, without any particular status or power. Why do you think God let one man’s sin affect the whole of the (first) battle against the city of Ai? What was the thrust of God’s commands in Joshua 7:10-15?
• Achan horded about as much gold and silver as the average person at the time would have earned in his/her lifetime. How did Joshua find out about Achan’s sin, and how did he deal with it?
• Why do you think the punishment was so severe? If you’re feeling extra clever, try thinking about the ways that Achan’s punishment mirrored the battle of Jericho.
• Achan’s poor choices, and the judgement that followed, affected many other people. How do our sins affect other people? Can you think of any examples?
• The second time the Israelites attacked Ai, in chapter 8, they had God with them. What happened? What tactics did Joshua use to trick the people in the city and defeat them in battle? Verse 15 of chapter 8 will help, and the verses onward. Read them carefully so you can see the clever way that Joshua planned and orchestrated the attack. Did you know that many of the battle strategies that army commanders have used in the millennia since have had their original roots in the Bible?
• Look at how much God spoke to Joshua during the two battles against Ai. During which battle did God talk to Joshua the most? What does this tell us about how our sin effects our communication with God?

As always, think about this story from the gospel point of view. Jesus and Achan were both executed to deal with God’s wrath. In Achan’s case, he was guilty and his death gave temporary respite to the Israelites to continue in their victorious march across Canaan (until they sinned again, of course). Jesus, on the other hand, was innocent. And in that, his death has much more power than Achan’s. In his death, Christ took all the punishment not only for the Israelites, but His followers worldwide. We deserve the fate that Achan got, but instead, we are freely forgiven through Jesus’ blood.

God still hates sin, and sin must still be dealt with, just like it was in the time of Joshua. Let us never forget the immense joy it is to know that punishment that us sinners deserve has been lifted away from us by God’s amazing – say it again, AMAZING – grace.