The Lot: Achan's Guilt Ascertained By
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In the narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan, the use of the lot plays a significant role in identifying the transgressor Achan, whose sin brought calamity upon the Israelites. This event is recorded in the Book of Joshua, specifically in Joshua 7. The casting of lots was a divinely sanctioned method used to reveal God's will and to make decisions, especially in matters where human judgment was insufficient.

Context and Background

Following the miraculous victory at Jericho, the Israelites faced an unexpected defeat at Ai. Joshua, the leader of Israel, was perplexed by this setback and sought the Lord's guidance. The Lord revealed that Israel had sinned by taking some of the devoted things from Jericho, which were under a ban. This act of disobedience violated the covenant and brought God's anger upon the nation.

The Process of Casting Lots

To identify the guilty party, God instructed Joshua to bring the people of Israel forward tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family, and man by man. The use of lots in this context was a means of divine selection, ensuring that the decision was not influenced by human bias or error. The process was meticulous and solemn, underscoring the seriousness of the offense and the need for divine intervention to reveal the truth.

Scriptural Account

The account in Joshua 7:14-18 describes the procedure: "In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects by lot shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD selects shall come forward family by family; and the family that the LORD selects shall come forward man by man. The one who is caught with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, along with all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrage in Israel."

As the process unfolded, the tribe of Judah was taken, then the clan of the Zerahites, followed by the family of Zabdi, and finally Achan son of Carmi was identified. This methodical approach, guided by the lot, left no room for doubt about Achan's guilt.

Theological Significance

The use of the lot in this instance highlights several theological themes. Firstly, it underscores the holiness and justice of God, who cannot tolerate sin within His covenant community. Secondly, it demonstrates God's sovereignty in guiding the process to reveal hidden sin. The lot, as a tool of divine revelation, ensured that the truth was brought to light in a manner that was beyond human manipulation.

Furthermore, the incident with Achan serves as a sobering reminder of the communal nature of sin and its consequences. Achan's personal transgression had corporate repercussions, affecting the entire nation of Israel. This reflects the biblical principle that sin, even when committed in secret, can have far-reaching effects on the community of believers.

Conclusion

The casting of lots to ascertain Achan's guilt is a profound example of God's direct involvement in the affairs of His people. It illustrates the seriousness with which God views sin and the lengths to which He will go to maintain the purity and integrity of His covenant community. The narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the need for obedience and the consequences of disobedience within the life of faith.
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Joshua 7:14-18
In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD takes shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.
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Resources
Who was Lot in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Lot offer up his daughters to be gang raped? Why did God allow Lot's daughters to later have sex with their father? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of Abraham and Lot? | GotQuestions.org

Lot: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Lot

Lot: The Son of Haran: Accompanies Terah from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran

Lot: The Son of Haran: Commits Incest With his Daughters

Lot: The Son of Haran: Disobediently Protests Against Going to the Mountains, and Chooses Zoar

Lot: The Son of Haran: His Wife Disobediently Yearns After Sodom, and Becomes a Pillar of Salt

Lot: The Son of Haran: Migrates With Abraham to the Land of Canaan

Lot: The Son of Haran: Providentially Saved from Destruction in Sodom

Lot: The Son of Haran: Returns With Him to Beth-El

Lot: The Son of Haran: Separates from Abraham, and Locates in Sodom

Lot: The Son of Haran: Taken Captive by Chedorlaomer; Rescued by Abraham

The Lot used After the Captivity

The Lot used to Fix the Time for the Execution of Condemned Persons

The Lot: Achan's Guilt Ascertained By

The Lot: An Apostle Chosen By

The Lot: General Scriptures Concerning

The Lot: Jonah's

The Lot: Jonathan's

The Lot: Priests and Levites Designated By, for Sanctuary Service

The Lot: Saul Chosen King By

The Lot: The Garments of Jesus Divided By

The Lot: The Land of Canaan Divided Among Tribes By

The Lot: The Scapegoat Chosen By

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The Lot used to Fix the Time for the Execution of Condemned Persons
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