Have you ever thought you could keep a sin hidden—something no one would ever find out about? That’s exactly what Achan believed in Joshua 7. He took what God had forbidden, buried it beneath his tent, and assumed it would remain secret. But what Achan tried to hide ended up destroying his family, weakening his nation, and separating him from God. The story of Achan’s hidden sin reveals a sobering truth: there is no such thing as private disobedience. Every hidden sin eventually comes to light, and the cost is always greater than we expect. Yet, this passage also reminds us of God’s mercy for those who confess and forsake their sin before it’s too late.
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Table of contentsThe Background: Israel’s Victory and WarningHidden Sin and Defeat at AiUnrepentant Sin Prevents ProsperityAchan’s Opportunity to RepentThe Pattern of Sin: Seeing, Coveting, TakingSin Often Begins with the EyesConfess Sin Before It’s ExposedDon’t Test God to Expose Your SinSin Always Affects More Than Just the SinnerThe Tragedy and the WarningConclusion: Confess Early, Repent Fully, Walk Freely🔑 Key Takeaway
Have you ever thought you could do something in private that wouldn’t affect anyone else? Maybe you told yourself, “Nobody will know, and nobody will get hurt.”
That’s what Achan thought. His story in Joshua 7 is one of the most sobering in the Bible—a reminder that sin is never private, and that confession is always better than concealment. Achan’s hidden sin didn’t just destroy him; it brought defeat to his nation and death to his family.
The Background: Israel’s Victory and Warning
After Israel conquered Jericho—the most fortified city in Canaan—Joshua gave a clear command:
Joshua 6:18“But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.”
The wealth of Jericho was to be dedicated to God. But Achan disobeyed.
Joshua 7:1“But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan… took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.”
Achan took what belonged to God and hid it under his tent. He thought no one would know—but his private rebellion brought public disaster.
Hidden Sin and Defeat at Ai
After their victory at Jericho, Israel attacked the small city of Ai, confident of another easy win. But instead, they were defeated—36 men died, and Israel’s courage melted away.
Joshua cried out to God, asking why. The Lord answered:
Joshua 7:11“Israel has sinned… They have stolen and lied and put [the devoted things] among their own belongings.”
Notice: God didn’t say Achan sinned—He said Israel sinned.This shows that the sin of one person can bring suffering to many.
Unrepentant Sin Prevents Prosperity
God told Joshua that Israel would continue to lose until the sin was removed. This truth still applies today: unrepentant sin hinders God’s blessing.
Proverbs 28:13“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”
Psalm 66:18“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
Isaiah 59:2“Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God…”
Sin cuts off our fellowship with God. Like Israel, we lose spiritual strength until the sin is confessed and removed.
Unconfessed sin affects every area of life—our marriages, families, finances, work, and spiritual growth.
Achan’s Opportunity to Repent
God revealed the guilty man through a process—tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family—until Achan was singled out.
He had multiple opportunities to repent. When Joshua commanded Israel to consecrate themselves (set themselves apart from sin), Achan should have confessed. But he stayed silent.
Finally,