By Staff
The Old Testament book of Joshua speaks of two men: Achan and Caleb. Both were Israelites, both were of the tribe of Judah, and both were part of the army that was conquering Canaan.
We know a little more of Caleb. He was one of the 12 spies mentioned in the book of Numbers, chapter 13, verse 6. Caleb was a man full of faith and vision. When he was sent in to spy out the land with eleven other men, they all saw the same cities, the same walls, the same warriors, etc., but Caleb and Joshua came back to give a favorable report based on God's ability to deliver, not on their own power or prowess.
Although Caleb stood against the negative report of the ten spies (Numbers 13:30), that day, evil prevailed and the nation was dispatched back to the desert for 40 years of wandering until every male of age except Joshua and Caleb died.
The 40 years passed and death took every man who was over 20 years of age at the time of the spy trip with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. There was now a new generation poised at the banks of the Jordan River ready to take the land. Caleb was an older man, but still in the army of conquest.
Achan was a warrior also. He stood with Caleb and watched God dry up the Jordan River while all the people walked across on dry land (Joshua 3:10-17). Achan and Caleb marched around Jericho the prescribed number of times, and watched the formidable walls crumble as they shouted at the command of God (Joshua 6:16-20). Achan and Caleb both heard the orders concerning the Jericho conquest, that they were not to take any spoil from the battle (Joshua 6:18).
The battle was over. Jericho lay in ruins. Israel was victorious. Caleb stood in faith and exalted the Living God of Heaven for His mighty works. Achan cowered in personal defeat in the midst of one of the greatest miracles he had ever witnessed.
A good legacy is birthed in the secret recesses of our soul. We can all know the same God, hear the same commands, and see the same things, yet act in opposing ways.
Jericho was a rich city. There were pieces of gold, silver, nice clothes, and every other thing pleasing to the eye. Achan took his eyes off God's purpose for his life and chose a temporary fix rather than waiting for God.
Jericho was an exception in that it was the only city where the spoil was not to be taken by individuals; it was for God's treasury (Joshua 6:19). In every other battle, the warriors could grab all they could get (Joshua 8:2).
Achan saw the gold, the silver, and the fine clothing. After his sin was discovered, he said, in Joshua, chapter 7, verse 21, "When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it."
One rule should guide us: "If we have to sneak to do it and keep it a secret, it is most likely wrong." Achan was in a terrible dilemma. He had what he thought he wanted, but there was no way to enjoy it.
Achan's sin was found out. He and his entire family along with all their possessions were burned (Joshua 7:25).
You will probably never meet a man whose parents named him Achan. On the other hand, Caleb persevered in faith and patience. He had God's promise and he waited for it. He was 85 years old and claimed the mountain God had promised even though it would require the routing of the giants who lived there (Joshua 14:6-12).
Two men, two legacies. Both legacies were birthed in the secret places of the soul where choices are made. Caleb is a challenge to us; Achan is a curse and a byword. We live with the same kind of choices every day, and we are forming our legacy.