◄ Joshua 7:26 ►
And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 7:26? 2. How does Joshua 7:26 demonstrate God's response to sin within the community? 3. What lessons on obedience can we learn from Joshua 7:26? 4. How does Joshua 7:26 connect to God's holiness in Leviticus 19:2? 5. How can we apply the principle of accountability from Joshua 7:26 today? 6. What does the "heap of stones" symbolize in Joshua 7:26 for believers? 7. Why did God command such severe punishment in Joshua 7:26? 8. How does Joshua 7:26 reflect God's justice and mercy? 9. What archaeological evidence supports the events described in Joshua 7:26? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 7? 11. What is the significance of the Valley of Achor? 12. Does the aftermath in Joshua 7 (especially verse 26) align with known historical or cultural records of that era? 13. Why does Joshua 7:11 emphasize collective guilt when only Achan committed the offense? 14. Who was Achan in the Bible? Discussion Questions 1. How does the account of Achan in Joshua 7:26 illustrate the impact of individual sin on a community? Can you think of a modern example where this principle applies? 2. In what ways can we create "memorials" in our own lives to remember God's faithfulness and lessons learned from past experiences? 3. How does the transformation of the Valley of Achor from a place of judgment to a symbol of hope encourage you in your personal walk with God? 4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's justice and mercy in your life. How did it change your understanding of His character? 5. How can the principles of accountability and community responsibility seen in Joshua 7 be applied in your church or small group setting today? Joshua 7 Bible Study Questions 1. In Joshua 7:1, Achan's sin is said to bring trouble on Israel as a whole. What does this verse teach us about the corporate nature of sin within a community? 2. Achan's sin led to defeat at Ai, which shocked Joshua and the elders. How can our individual actions affect the groups or communities we're part of? 3. Joshua reacted to the defeat with mourning and despair. Why did he react this way and what does it teach us about leadership and responsibility? 4. How does God's response to Joshua in Joshua 7:10-12 instruct us on moving forward after a setback or failure? 5. God knew who was guilty, yet He had Joshua cast lots to determine the guilty party. What might be the reason for this and how can this process be compared to our justice system today? 6. In what ways might we be tempted to take what isn’t ours, like Achan did, especially in our current society? 7. Achan hid the spoils of Jericho in his tent, thinking his sin was hidden. How does this story speak to the misconception that our hidden sins have no consequences? 8. How can Achan’s story serve as a reminder of the short-lived pleasure of sin compared to its long-term consequences? 9. How did Achan's confession in Joshua 7:20-21 reflect his understanding of his sin and its gravity? 10. How can we apply the lessons of Achan’s story to our own lives when dealing with temptation and sin? 11. How can this story help us understand the concept of personal accountability and its importance in a society? 12. What lessons can we learn from Joshua's leadership and his dealing with defeat and sin within his people? 13. How does Achan's story challenge us to think about the impacts of our private actions on our community? 14. Despite the heavy consequence of Achan’s sin, God’s anger was turned away after justice was served. How can this narrative be used to understand God's wrath and justice? 15. Why do you think Achan’s entire family was punished for his sin? How does this compare to our modern understanding of justice? 16. The chapter ends with a place being named the Valley of Achor, meaning trouble, in memory of this event. Why do you think it's important to remember such difficult times? 17. Can you share a personal experience when a hidden mistake or sin of yours affected the people around you? How did you deal with it? 18. How does Achan's story remind us of the importance of obedience to God's commandments in our daily lives? 19. How does Achan's action contrast with Rahab's action in the previous chapters? What does this say about the nature of decisions and their outcomes? 20. In this chapter, Joshua and the Israelites are taught a hard lesson about the importance of holiness and obedience. How can we learn from their experience and apply it in our contemporary lives? Links Joshua 7:26 NIV Joshua 7:26 NLT Joshua 7:26 ESV Joshua 7:26 NASB Joshua 7:26 KJV Joshua 7:26 Commentaries Bible Hub