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PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

Introduction

Tonight’s lesson brings us to what I believe to be one of the saddest stories in all the Bible.

The story of Achan– it is a story of disobedience and the consequences of disobedience.

What is really sad about this story is that it is played out in the Church over and over again.

(i.e. Many people have not learned the lesson that God intended from including this story in Scripture.)

Many Christians don’t take time to stop and think about the effect that their thoughts and actions have on the people of God, on the lost, on themselves, or on their families. Consequently, they

are often driven by their flesh and make wrong choices that lead to dire consequences. Such was the case in the life of Achan.

I.         WHO ACHAN WAS. (JOSHUA 7:1)

            Achan was one of the Children of Israel.

He was out of the tribe of Judah, the tribe out of which the Lord Jesus Christ would be born into.

His father was Carmi, whose father was Zabdi, whose father was Zerah, whose father was Judah.

He came out of one of the most influential and prestigious families of Israel to become a person whose name became associated with disobedience and trouble.

            His name means “trouble,” “to trouble” or “troublesome.”

            A.        Achan Knew Of The Power Of God.

                        1.         He knew of the power of God that was used to redeem Israel out of the Egyptian bondage. (Deuteronomy 6:20-25)

The plagues against Pharaoh and Egypt had no doubt been rehearsed in his ears.

He heard how the power of God turned the river to blood and brought the plagues of frogs, lice, flies, the murrain of beasts, the boils and blains, the hail, the locusts, the darkness and the death angel upon the firstborn.

                        2.         He knew of the power of God that was used in the crossing of the Red Sea.

                        3.         He knew of the power of God that was used to provide for Israel in the wilderness.

                                    He knew how God had provided manna to eat, water to drink and had                                     preserved their clothing.

                        4.         He knew of the power of God that was used in the crossing of the Jordan River. (i.e. The priests bearing the ark parted the water.) 

                        5.         He knew of the power of God that brought the destruction of the walls of Jericho.

                        Achan Knew Of The Power Of God.

            B.        Achan Knew Of The Requirements Of God.

                        1.         He Knew God Required Total Dedication.

                                    Deuteronomy 6:4-5–“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

                        2.         He Knew God Required Total Obedience. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

            C.        Achan Knew Of The Chastisement Of God.

                        (i.e. He knew that God took sin seriously.)

                        1.         He knew about the 3000 killed at Mount Sinai. (Exodus 32)

                        2.         He knew about Korah, Dathan, Abiram and all that pertained to them were swallowed into the pit and the 250 conspirators were consumed by the fire of God. (Numbers 16)

                        3.         He knew how God judged 14,700 Israelites that were sympathetic with Korah.

                        4.         He knew that his own mom and dad perished in the wilderness because of disobedience.

Those 20 years of age and upward perished with the exception of Moses, Joshua, and Caleb.

                        5.         He knew how that when Moses struck the rock when God told him to speak to the rock that he was judged for his disobedience.

So, who was Achan? –He was one of the children of Israel who should have known better than to do what he did.

            WHO ACHAN WAS.

II.       WHERE ACHAN WAS.

            He was right in the middle of where God was working!

            A.        He Was A Participant In The Conquest Of Jericho.

                        (i.e. The wall of Jericho fell through the obedience of the people.)

B.        He Was A Participant In The Miraculous Destruction Of Jericho By The Word Of God.

III.      WHAT ACHAN DID.

            He disobeyed the explicit instructions of the LORD! (Joshua 7:11, 21)

            A.        Achan Coveted. (Vs 21)

                        He violated the Tenth Commandment: Exodus 20:17–“Thou shalt not covet. . .”

James 1:14-15–“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

                        Covetousness distracts us from what God has for us.

                        When we covet, our desires take the place of God’s Word.

                        Psalms 119:36–“Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.”

Luke 12:15–“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Ephesians 5:3–“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”

Colossians 3:5–“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”

Hebrews 13:5–“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

                        Oh that we would be satisfied and content with what God gives us!

            B.        Achan Questioned The Authority Of God.

                        He showed by his actions that he did not believe the Word of God.

            C.        Achan Took Of That Which God Said Was Accursed.

                        (i.e. A goodly Babylonish Garment.)

                        The word “accursed” means that which is doomed.

            D.        Achan Took Of That Which Belonged To God. (Joshua 6:19)

                        (i.e. 200 shekels of silver and 50 shekels of gold.)

            E.        Achan Took Of That Which Belonged To God’s People.

                        1.         He Robbed Them Of Manpower – 36 souls. (Vs 5)

                        2.         He Robbed Them Of Victory–Ai. (Vs 5)

                        3.         He Robbed Them Of Revival. (Vs 6-7)

                        4.         He Robbed Them Of God’s Blessing. (Vs 11-12)

            F.        Achan Harbored The Sin In His Life.

                        (i.e. He acted like nothing had ever happened.)

IV.      WHAT ACHAN SUFFERED.

            He suffered total ruin!

            A.        He Suffered Defeat With Israel.

God’s blessings were being withheld from God’s people all because of this one man’s sin.

            B.        He Suffered Humiliation. (Joshua 7:19-20)

                        Numbers 32:23–“. . .be sure your sin will find you out.”

            C.         He Suffered Death. (Joshua 7:24-25)

                        1.         Death Of Himself.

                                    (Cf. 1 John 5:16–the sin unto death.”)

                        2.         Death Of His Family.

            D.        He Suffered The Loss Of All Things.

He lost all that he had including what he had desired so much that he was willing to disobey God to get.

Conclusion 

Our sin affects us. Our sin affects our family. Our sin affects other people.

Adam’s sin affected all of mankind.

Romans 5:12–“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

The sin of the 10 spies affected all of the Children of Israel.

Achan refused to deal with his sin and it brought death. The chastisement of God can be severe sometimes.

You would think that God’s children would learn that. However, the story of Achan has been repeated over and over again.

The circumstances of our disobedience may be different, but it is still disobedience.

The consequences of our sin may be different, but they are nevertheless tragic.

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!