Repentance

It has never struck me until today that God did not point out Achan as the one who had sinned until the next day. Why not? Why not deal with the problem right then and there?

I don’t know. But perhaps the answer is found in verse 13.

Go and consecrate the people. Tell them to consecrate themselves for tomorrow… (Joshua 7:13)

In telling the people to consecrate themselves, God was telling the people to prepare their hearts, and give themselves wholly to God.

Certainly part of that process was confessing their sins.

I think God was giving Achan the chance to repent that night. He had a full night to search his heart and get it right before God.

Even the next morning, God did not expose him right away. First his tribe was chosen, then his clan, then his family. But despite multiple chances to confess his sin and repent, Achan remained silent until finally he was singled out by God.

And by then, it was too late.

Had he repented, would he have still been killed? I can’t say for sure, but my guess is he would have found mercy.

So let us not hide our sin. Rather, let us confess it and repent before it’s too late.

As John said,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (I John 1:9)