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Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
James 1:15 NASB
This is a sad story after such a joyful victory for Israel. The sin of Achan brought shame not only to him and his family but to the entire nation of Israel. Notice that God puts the responsibility on the nation, Joshua included. This is because He knows that there is no such thing as “a little sin.” What Achan did has the potential to become full-grown and give birth to death. God always has and always will take sin seriously.
In verse 21, we read Achan’s reply when confronted…
“When I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.”
I saw them. I coveted them. I took them and I concealed them.
God knows that when left to our natural desires, we will compromise and sin. But the other aspect to consider here is that God held Joshua and his leadership accountable to Achan’s sin. This shows the nature of God’s standard. Much later in the New Testament, Jesus would speak along these same lines when talking about sin.
So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body go off to hell.
Matthew 5:29-30 GNB
What is Jesus saying here? Of course, He knows that gouging out your eye does not stop you from lusting just as much as cutting off your right hand does not stop your mind from having impure thoughts. The point Jesus is making is that a small compromise can lead to death. It only takes one part to corrupt the entire body, and that corruption leads us down a path of slavery to sin.
Just like Achan’s action prohibited Israel from overcoming their enemies, our small, secret sins can prevent us from experiencing all that God has for us. In Jesus’ words, a repeated pattern of continual sin can lead the heart away from Christ and into hell!
Jesus takes sin seriously. So does God. The Holy Spirit brings conviction into our hearts, but conviction alone is not enough. We need the power to change. That power will not come from trying harder to follow God’s law, but through the joy and gratitude of reflecting on what Christ has done for us. His love must drive our decision-making.