Lesson: 304 Lesson Name: The Death of Achan
Theme: Sin Found Out / Detected

Reading: Joshua 7:1-26

Memory Verse: Numb. 32:23
Memory Verse Text: Be sure your sin will find you out.

Point 1: The death of the 36 men and the chasing away of the rest came about in a very unusual and awful way.  Afterwards, Joshua went before the Lord and stayed there until the Lord revealed the problem.  Joshua was not in God's thoughts and the Lord had made him feel it.
Point 2: Sin calls for action; accordingly, the people were warned of the next day's reckoning.  Why did Achan wait when he knew that tomorrow was coming?  He thought that he could escape being detected.
Point 3: When the morning came, there was no delay.  God came very close.  Why did Achan still delay?  Oh the foolishness of the sinner who does not know God!  Achan admitted his guilt after finally being exposed.  At that point, the garment which he stole did not look as attractive as it had and the gold could not buy him a right relationship with His God.
Point 4: After Achan's sin was exposed, all Israel was able to see what God had seen all along.  Together they stoned Achan, with all his possessions, in the valley of Achor and raised a pile of stones over him so that everyone would remember that sin will find you out!  Achor means trouble; likewise, sin is big trouble in the midst of God's people.

Notes: It would be wise for those of us who are saved to follow Joshua's example in Point 1:  We should go before God on our knees to have Him show us the reason for our failures and how to deal with them.

See also: Old Testament History - 3.8 - Ai, Achan's Sin

This Sunday School Curriculum guide is part of a 254 Sunday School Lesson Book available at www.gospelhall.org.  See the Downloads Section of the site for a complete copy.

The Sunday School Teacher's Survival Guide http://gospelhall.org/teaching--preaching/sunday-school-helper.html also provides advice on developing lessons for Bible classes.