Achan's Secret Sins
Joshua 7:1-26
Your financial support makes resources like this available! Please
help.
(This fun, Bible alliteration story can be used as a stand alone lesson or with Lesson 8, "Don't Steal," from our
God's Top Ten Bible
lessons. When a word that begins with "S" is spoken, children make the hand sign for
"Don't Steal," as indicated by our
Ten Commandments hand
motions. Emphasize and pause ever so slightly when saying the bolded words.)
In Achan’s Secret Sins, children learn how one man’s disobedience brought trouble to all of Israel—and how confessing sin brings forgiveness and peace with God. Based on Joshua 7, this Bible story reminds us that sin has serious consequences, but God’s mercy is greater when we admit our wrongs.
"The soldiers of Israel were sad after a surprising defeat. Then Joshua, Israel’s leader, asked God why they had lost the battle.
God said, 'Someone has stolen what belonged to me. You must
search and find the sinner.'
Joshua called all the tribes of Israel to stand before the Lord to find the guilty one. Then God revealed the
sinner to them—he was a man named Achan.
Joshua said to Achan, 'What have you done? Speak the truth!'
Achan confessed, ''I saw a beautiful robe, pieces of silver, and a gold bar. I really wanted them,
so I stole them and stashed them under my tent.'
Joshua sent men to search Achan’s tent and soon they found the
stolen things buried in the sand, and laid them out before the Lord.
Because Achan had sinned and brought sorrow to the people of God, he was put to death for his
serious sin against God.
After that, God’s anger stopped, and peace was settled in Israel."
Discussion
1. Why did Israel lose the battle?
(Because Achan had stolen something that was supposed to be given to God. This story helps us understand that when we sin, we hurt more people than just ourselves.)
2. What other sin motivated Achan to steal?
(He coveted those things that belonged to God. Coveting means craving or wanting something that belongs to others.)
3. Achan’s sin of stealing led to another sin. What was it?
(By hiding the stolen goods, Achan was trying to cover up his wrongdoing—he was living a lie instead of telling the truth.
This story helps us see that when we sin, it often leads to other sins and can become a trap that’s hard to escape. Maybe if Achan had confessed his sin—admitting he was wrong and asking God for mercy—his life might have been spared.
Today, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, when we belong to Him, we are forgiven. When we “mess up,” we must “fess up,” meaning, “If we confess our sins—that is, be honest, admit it, and mean it—then God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John
1:9).
(Close in prayer.)
Help keep the site going, support our site!
Subscribe to our Newsletter - Learn More