After conquering the walled city of Jericho, Joshua and God's people must feel exhilarated. They have experienced one of the most spectacular military victories of all time. What could possibly stop them now? The answer lies in a word: sin.

Some people might ask: ″What's wrong with a little sin?″ First, no sin is little. Second, the sin described in today's reading is outrageous. The guilty man, Achan, steals from the Lord's treasury (Joshua 7:11). God had earlier instructed that ″all the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury″ (6:19). Achan's actions are a form of high-handed rebellion against the maker of heaven and earth. As a result, he incurs God's wrath (7:1, 10-12, 26; see also 22:20).

Of course, Joshua and the other leaders have no idea about what Achan has done. After they mourn until evening (7:6), and after Joshua's brief but heartfelt prayer (vv. 7-9), the Lord explains how He will reveal the covenant-breaking man the following day (vv. 10-15).

That the Lord took such public measures to pinpoint and judge Achan's rebellion must have sent chills down the back of every Israelite. The warning of Moses, given many years ago, still rings true: ″You may be sure that your sin will find you out″ (Numbers 32:23).

Is it possible for Christians who know Christ's sacrifice on the cross to commit flagrant sins against the Lord, too? Yes, as we see in the example of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11, and in many others documented in the epistles. Such actions, if not followed by deep confession and true repentance, can lead to weakness, sickness, and even death (1 Corinthians 11:30).

Jesus didn't die for some of our sins. He died for them all, including the worst and most rebellious attitudes, words, and actions. But that doesn't mean the Lord doesn't care what we do anymore. In fact, it is just the opposite. We need to identify our sins, deeply confess them, and exhibit true repentance in how we think, speak, and behave.