Achan, Achar, Achor…[ÔöÇ├ç’chÔöÇ├ón,ÔöÇ├ç’chÔö£├▒r, ÔöÇ├ç’chÔö£Ôöñr]-TROUBLE.

The son of Carmi of the tribe of Judah …Josh. 7(Ai Defeats the Israelites)

1 Chron. 2:7.…The son of Carmi (a descendant of Zimri) was Achan,(Hebrew Achar compare Josh 7:1. Achar means "disaster.")who brought disaster on Israel by taking plunder that had been set apart for the Lord. (The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.)

The Man Who Brought Trouble to a Nation

It did not take Joshua long to discover that his defeat at Ai, after a succession of victories, was due to some transgression of the divine covenant

Joshua 7:8-12…Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?" But the Lord said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.

Thus, as the result of an inquiry, Achan was exposed as the transgressor, and confessing his sin in stealing and hiding part of the spoil taken at the destruction of Jericho, was put to death in consequence. In keeping with the custom of those days, Achan was probably stoned with his immediate relatives, and their dead bodies burned-the latter making punishment more terrible in the eyes of the Israelites.

Achan was put to death in "the valley of Achor" meaning "the valley of trouble"-the valley being called after Achan who had been the troubler of Israel

Joshua 7:25, 26

Then Joshua said to Achan, "Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you." And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies.

Thus in 1 Chronicles 2:7Achan is spelled as Achar (See above).

But "the valley of trouble" became a "door of hope" all of which is spiritually suggestive Isaiah 65:10

The plain of Sharon will again be filled with flocks for my people who have searched for me, and the valley of Achor will be a place to pasture herds.

Hosea 2:15

I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble(Hebrew valley of Achor.) into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.…Covetousness means defeat.

1.God had forbidden anyone taking to himself the spoils of Jericho, but one man, only one amongst all the hosts of Israel, disobeyed and brought failure upon all. Achan's sin teaches us the oneness of the people of God. "Israel hath sinned"

Joshua 7:11

Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings.

The whole cause of Christ can be delayed by the sin, neglect or lack of spirituality of one person …1 Corinthians 5:1-7…I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you-something that even pagans don't do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.(Greek his father's wife) You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship. Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.(Or in spirit ) And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church.(Or In the name of the Lord Jesus, you must call a meeting of the church.) I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus. Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed(Or so that his body will be destroyed; Greek reads for the destruction of the flesh.) and he himself(Greek and the spirit.) will be saved on the day the Lord(Other manuscripts read the Lord Jesus; still others read our Lord Jesus Christ. ) returns. Your boasting about this is terrible. Don't you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old "yeast" by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.(Greek has been sacrificed.)…1 Corinthians 12:12, 14, 26

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ…..Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part……If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

2.The whole process of sin. Along with Eve and David in their respective sins, Achan also saw,– coveted and took. James expresses the rise, progress and end of sin

James. 1:14, 15

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away……These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

The inward corruption of Achan's heart was first drawn forth by enticing objects-desire of gratification was then formed-ultimately determination to attain was fixed.

3. Prayer was rejected for action. When the most unexpected defeat of Ai came about, Joshua fell on his face before the Lord, and earnestly asked for an explanation of the reverse. But God said

Joshua. 7:10, 13

But the Lord said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?…."Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, arethings set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.

God cannot hear and bless if there is sin in the camp. For often we acknowledge the greatness of our national sins, but fail to drag out our personal sins testifying against us. Once Achan was discovered and judged, Israel went forward to victory.

4. The richness of divine mercy.

When the accursed thing was removed and chastisement exercised, triumph quickly followed trouble.

The valley of Achor became a door of hope.

The locust-eaten years are restored.

Confession and forgiveness open closed lips, quicken dormant energies and liberate power in the service of the Lord.