Achan is a tragic figure who led not only himself but his entire family into a severe judgment. He is an example of the deceptive sinner. Achan freely confessed his sin, but it was only because he was caught. Confession and acknowledgment of our sin because we were caught, because they have come to light in some way to others, is not the true confession of brokenness for sin.

Israel “could not stand” before their enemies because of the “accursed thing” hidden under Achan’s tent (Josh. 7:11, 21). Achan hid his booty and he hid his sin, but no matter how deceptive we are God says, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23). The reason for Israel’s lack of power was revealed to Joshua, but who was the perpetrator? It gradually was narrowed down and came out: first the tribe, then the clan, then the household, then the man (Josh. 7:16–18). When Achan’s tribe was singled out, there was an opportunity for Achan to step forward, but he did not, until he could no longer hide—oh, how deceptive! As Sir Walter Scott put it, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”

Achan means “troubler,” and indeed those who sin among God’s people bring trouble upon not only themselves, but also their families and assemblies (v. 25). Achan and his family were stoned in the Valley of Achor, or the “Valley of Trouble.” Dr. John Gill, an old Bible expositor from the 18th century, believed that Achan was a saved man, like the man in 1 Corinthians 5, whose flesh would be destroyed that “the spirit would be saved” (1 Cor. 5:5). This may be so, but we have no way of knowing. With the man in Corinth, there was genuine repentance. It is much better to humble ourselves with sincere confession rather than bring trouble upon ourselves and those we love.