Joshua 7:21 (read the whole chapter)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%207&version=NKJV

The average household income for clerical or urban wage occupations or nonsalary employees is $58,084. Now, consider that number as you read all of this text. It’s a bit dramatic but go with it.

Achan was a typical young man in the Israeli army back in the book of Joshua. There was nothing shared about him that would draw attention to him. However, what we find out is that in vs. 1, we see “for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.”

What stands out to me is that Achan (one man) took of the accursed things, yet all of Israel paid the price the LORD burned against the children of Israel. The act of one man brought death among them all (sounds like Adam, right).

The hard truth is that Achan’s actions cost numerous people their lives. Some he knew, and some he may have never met. The Bible tells us that vs 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men. That vs 24-25 Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.

These people died horrible deaths because Achan had no self-control or integrity. Or because he made one simple mistake (at least that is all we’re privy to).

I see at least 40-45 people (depending on how many children Achan had) impacted fatally by this simple act of greed or coveting.

Understanding the times may clarify why Achan’s actions were so shocking. When the children of Israel were taken out of Egypt, “the Law” was given to them; they’d spent 40 years in the wilderness because of disobedience to and failure to believe in the power of God. They saw people drop dead, be sucked into the earth, and an entire generation die off before entering the land God promised (including their leader Moses) because of these things.

This is why when you calculate the present-day value of items Achan took after the battle, it’s pretty sad. Making some rough estimations based on the weight of the items and the value of the materials, we determine:

– Beautiful Babylonian Garment: $500

– Two Hundred Shekels of Silver: $3,000

– Wedge of Gold Weighing Fifty Shekels: $30,000

The total approximate value of the items would be around $33,500 in today’s currency. That would mean each life cost approximately $837.50 – $744.45 ($33,500~40-45 people). That is less than the cost of a refurbished iPhone. All money ain’t good money, and Achan found that out the brutal way.

What is the takeaway from this? Obey God…Absolutely. Don’t covet other people’s stuff…Sure. Consider both in all of your decision making but always count the cost (Lk 14:25-33 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+14%3A25-33&version=NKJV).

Many of our choices don’t just impact us but those connected to us.