- The Times of Volume Three
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- Chapter 1—An Appeal for Burden Bearers
- Chapter 2—Unsanctified Ability
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- Chapter 4—Intimate Friendship With Worldlings
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- Chapter 6—Experience Not Reliable
- Chapter 7—Faithfulness in Home Duties
- Chapter 8—Pride and Vain Thoughts
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- Chapter 12—To Wealthy Parents
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- Chapter 14—The Health Reform
- Chapter 15—The Health Institute
- Chapter 16—Danger of Applause
- Chapter 17—Labor for the Erring
- Chapter 18—The Sabbath School
- Chapter 19—Laborers in the Office
- Chapter 20—Love and Duty
- Chapter 21—The Battle Creek Church
- Chapter 22—Missionary Work
- Chapter 23—Effect of Discussions
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- Chapter 25—Self-Caring Ministers
- Chapter 26—Inordinate Love of Gain
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- Chapter 38—Importance of the Work
- Chapter 39—The State of the World
- Chapter 40—The State of the Church
- Chapter 41—Love of the World
- Chapter 42—Presumption
- Chapter 43—Power of Appetite
- Chapter 44—Leadership
- Chapter 45—Calls for Means
- Chapter 46—Duty to the Unfortunate
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- Chapter 48—The Sin of Covetousness
- Chapter 49—Industry in the Ministry
- Chapter 50—Parents as Reformers
- Chapter 51—“Cannot Come Down”
Achan's Sin and Punishment
God had specially guarded His people against mingling with the idolatrous nations around them, lest their hearts should be deceived by the attractive groves and shrines, temples and altars, which were arranged in the most expensive, alluring manner to pervert the senses so that God would be supplanted in the minds of the people.3T 263.2
The city of Jericho was devoted to the most extravagant idolatry. The inhabitants were very wealthy, but all the riches that God had given them they counted as the gift of their gods. They had gold and silver in abundance; but, like the people before the Flood, they were corrupt and blasphemous, and insulted and provoked the God of heaven by their wicked works. God's judgments were awakened against Jericho. It was a stronghold. But the Captain of the Lord's host Himself came from heaven to lead the armies of heaven in an attack upon the city. Angels of God laid hold of the massive walls and brought them to the ground. God had said that the city of Jericho should be accursed and that all should perish except Rahab and her household. These should be saved because of the favor that Rahab showed the messengers of the Lord. The word of the Lord to the people was: “And ye, in anywise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.” “And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.”3T 264.1
God was very particular in regard to Jericho, lest the people should be charmed with the things that the inhabitants had worshiped and their hearts be diverted from God. He guarded His people by most positive commands; yet notwithstanding the solemn injunction from God by the mouth of Joshua, Achan ventured to transgress. His covetousness led him to take of the treasures that God had forbidden him to touch because the curse of God was upon them. And because of this man's sin the Israel of God were as weak as water before their enemies.3T 264.2
Joshua and the elders of Israel were in great affliction. They lay before the ark of God in most abject humility because the Lord was wroth with His people. They prayed and wept before God. The Lord spoke to Joshua: “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”3T 264.3