Achan's disobedience in stealing and hiding the spoil from Ai compromised the standing of Israel before God and led to the costly defeat of the Israelite armies at Ai. The story of Achan demonstrates that sin cannot be tolerated and that sin brings judgment. Although the account involves judgment it also proclaims hope for blessing when sin is repudiated and overcome. God often uses His judgment to bring change that enables Him to turn judgments into blessings. After the Lord judged Joshua and the Israelites for Achan's sin He again blessed them with success and continued to honor the covenant He had made with them. God's covenant remained continuous yet the Israelites because of Achan's sin had broken faith with it and the covenant was then restored. The principle of blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience was demonstrated in the case of Achan and the defeat of Ai. When the people attacked Jericho in strict obedience the result was blessings. When the people attacked Ai after Achan's sin the result was defeat. The wrong was disobedience. Only after the sin had been exposed and judgment meted out to Achan did blessing return. God's intention to bless the Israelites in their conquest remained contingent on continuing obedience to His commands.

Achan took accursed things from Jericho. Israel as a covenant community bore responsibility for this sin in its midst. Achan's action led to defeat at Ai where thirty six Israelite men died. Achan later confessed that he had seen a Babylonian garment two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels. He coveted these items and took them. He hid the plunder in the earth inside his tent with the silver underneath. Achan's dissatisfaction with the way the Lord had ordered his life gave birth to covetousness. Covetousness then produced the sinful actions of stealing misleading and lying. Joshua sent messengers who found the items in Achan's tent and brought them to Joshua and all the children of Israel. The objects were spread out before the Lord. All Israel stoned Achan with stones and burned him with fire after the stoning. They raised a great heap of stones over him. Joshua said that Achan had troubled Israel and that the Lord would trouble Achan that day. The place of Achan's death was called the Valley of Achor because Achor means trouble. After this judgment the blessing of the Lord returned to Israel.

Achan took accursed things from Jericho. His sin caused the defeat of Israel's army at Ai. Achan was a soldier who heard God's command that the city of Jericho be destroyed. All metal articles were to go to the treasury of the Lord. Everything else was to be consumed by fire. When Achan entered the city he saw a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels. He coveted them and took them. He hid the items in the earth in the midst of his tent. Achan's dissatisfaction with the way God had ordered his life gave birth to disobedience. Achan coveted what was not his. Achan stole the articles that belonged to God. Achan misled and lied. The sin of Achan brought judgment on all Israel and the death of many. The Lord said that Israel had sinned and had taken some of the accursed things. The children of Israel could not stand before their enemies because they had become doomed to destruction. Joshua confronted Achan. Achan confessed his sin. Joshua sent messengers who found the hidden items. They brought the items to Joshua and laid them out before the Lord. All Israel took Achan, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had to the Valley of Achor. All Israel stoned Achan and his family with stones and burned them with fire. The Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. The place was called the Valley of Achor because Achan troubled Israel. The story of Achan shows how sin starts and progresses. If sin is not acknowledged and resisted there will be serious problems and ramifications. Achan's sin caused all Israel to sin as a family. Achan began the Canaanization of Israel.

In the account involving Achan, Achan confessed after his crime of thievery that led directly to the deaths of 31 Israelites. Joshua responded by immediately executing Achan along with his family, oxen, donkeys, and sheep. Joshua also ordered that Achan's tent be burned and the remains covered with stones. This action showed that Joshua had not lost his moral bearings. Joshua possessed the mind of Christ and knew the appropriate response to the incident. Such decisive judgment stands in contrast to current national leaders who have lost their moral bearings in handling confessed enemies.