Achan's Sin: From the Valley of Judgment to the Door of Hope

Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 6 - Achan's Sin

From the Valley of Judgment to the Door of Hope

Read: Joshua 7; Hosea 2:14–15; 2 Corinthians 5:21

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Devotional Thought

Achan's sin in Joshua 7 was not a simple act of taking forbidden things — it was a breach of covenant trust. God had commanded that everything in Jericho be devoted to Him. Achan chose otherwise, and that hidden choice brought painful consequences not only for himself, but for the whole nation. Sin is never a private matter. It fractures fellowship with God and harms the community of His people.

The judgment that follows can feel difficult to read. It reminds us that God takes sin seriously — not because He is harsh, but because sin is destructive. Israel was being established as a holy people in a hostile land; rebellion at this crucial moment could unravel their entire mission. God's justice was clear: sin brings death.

Yet Scripture doesn't leave us in the Valley of Achor. Centuries later, Hosea points to that very place — the place of Achan’s judgment — and calls it a “door of hope.” In Christ, we see how this happens. Jesus did not minimize the seriousness of sin; He intensified it, teaching that anger is like murder and lust like adultery. Hidden sins matter. But unlike Achan, we do not bear our punishment alone. Christ bore it for us.

At the cross, God’s justice and mercy met perfectly. Jesus became the sin-bearer so that we could become the righteousness of God. Achan's story warns us not to hide sin, but to bring it into the light — where grace heals rather than judgment destroys. In Christ, our valleys of failure become gateways to hope.

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Reflection Questions

1. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to hide sin rather than confess it?

2. How does Jesus’ sacrifice change the way you view the seriousness of sin?

3. Where have you seen God turn your "Valley of Achor" moments into hope and restoration?

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Prayer

Lord, thank You that You take sin seriously — not to destroy us, but to save us. Help me not to hide what needs to be surrendered. Give me courage to confess, faith to trust Your grace, and humility to walk in obedience. Thank You for Jesus, who bore the weight of sin so I could walk in freedom. Turn my valleys into doors of hope, and make me faithful to Your covenant love. Amen.

More: The Enemy Within - Sabbath School Lesson 6 - The Lessons of Faith from Joshua

Sabbath School Quarterly Online: The Lessons of Faith from Joshua