The Slippery Slope of Sin

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. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.

— Joshua 7:21

The confession of Achan in Joshua 7:21 provides a clear example of the dangerous progression of sin. It begins with the eyes, moves to the heart, motivates the hand, and finally leads to secrecy. Achan’s downfall started with a simple look. He saw a beautiful Babylonian garment, silver, and gold. His eyes lingered, and that initial glance stirred up covetousness in his heart.

From covetousness, Achan’s desires translated into action. He took the items, allowing his heart’s longing to dictate his actions. This step—taking what was forbidden—demonstrated his disregard for God’s commands and a lack of trust in God’s provision. Instead of relying on God to meet his needs, Achan succumbed to the deceitful allure of material wealth.

The final step in Achan’s progression of sin was hiding the stolen items. He buried them in the ground inside his tent, hoping to keep his disobedience hidden. This act of concealment shows the natural response to sin: secrecy. Sin thrives in the dark, where it can grow unchecked and unchallenged. Achan’s attempt to hide his sin only compounded his guilt and led to severe consequences for himself and Israel.

The progression of sin is not unique to Achan. We see a similar pattern in the story of the Fall (Genesis 3:6), where Eve saw the forbidden fruit, coveted it, took it, and ultimately led to hiding from God. This slippery slope serves as a warning for us today. Sin, if not confronted and confessed, will continue to deceive and lead us further away from God. Whatever stage we are in, it is crucial to pause and seek God’s help to stop the progression of sin before it is too late.

PRAYER