Achan and Ananias and the Foreshadow of Greed
How Joshua 7 and Acts 5 are telling the same story.
Last time we discussed how the Book of Joshua is an Old Testament Book of Acts in foreshadow. Now let’s take a little time to continue that thought process on a micro level.
The “battle” of Jericho takes place in Joshua 6. But it is not a battle. God is the great Victor and there is no challenge to His overwhelming power. Jericho’s fortifications are no match for Yahweh’s awe-inspiring glory. By chapter’s end, impressive Jericho lies in ruins without a single weapon raised against it. Israel did its part by marching and shouting (acts of faith) and then watched as God’s victory over their enemies was manifested.
Before the seventh day of marching Israel was warned by Joshua about the need for all spoils to be dedicated to God. In Joshua 6:17-18, Joshua warned the people:
And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction…But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.
In other words, anything found in the city after destruction belongs completely to God. Spoils will be taken after future victories. But Jericho is a kind of “firstfruits” of victory. All of its spoil must be devoted to Yahweh. Anyone taking anything for himself will only bring trouble on Israel.
Of course, by Joshua 7:1, the reader is informed that Achan of Judah has disobeyed this command:
But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan…took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.
Chapter 7 then details Israel’s second battle in the Promised Land which is against Ai. It was considered so weak, only a small portion of Israel’s fighting men were sent against it (cf. Josh. 7:4). But shockingly, they are repelled by Ai.
In short order, the Lord tells Joshua Israel has failed because someone among them has taken spoil from Jericho, from that which was “set apart” to God. Now God has “set apart” Israel for destruction unless they remove from among them what is “set apart” (Josh. 7:12; in other words, punish the transgressor and return to Yahweh what it His alone).
Joshua is then a leader on a mission. He discovers that Achan has stolen from the spoil. Achan’s greed has caused God’s judgment to fall on Israel. It contaminated Israel with sin and will lead to greater destruction if the perpetrator is not judged. Joshua pronounced a death sentence on Achan and his entire household, all of whom are stoned (Josh. 7:25). This assuages the Lord’s anger.
Fast forward to Acts 5. The people of God—the antitype, not the shadow—are now the newly formed Church. They are building the Kingdom of God, using divine weapons to overcome spiritual strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). But their progress is threatened from within. Ananias and Sapphira had greedy hearts and conspired to “keep back” money which they claimed was devoted to God’s work (Acts 5:1-2). No doubt, they envied the goodwill extended to Barnabas for the same generosity (Acts 4:36-37).
So the reader sees that in this new Kingdom, just like in the old, the seeds of greed are being sown. Just like with the old, the new Kingdom will have to be purged in severity so that the point about God’s holiness and His people’s godly character will be cemented in the minds of fledgling believers.
Peter confronts Ananias and Sapphira for their plot to take from that which they said was completely devoted to God’s work among His people. It is not the fact that Ananias and Sapphira kept back some of the money from their sale, but that they said it was all given to God in order that they might receive praise of men as well as have money for themselves.
Finally, the Greek word for “kept back” in Acts 5:2 is the same as the word used in the first century Greek translation of the Old Testament in Joshua 7:1 for “took.” In fact, it is only found here in the entire Old Testament. Luke if practically begging readers to see the connection. The importance of pure hearts and motives among God’s people is paramount if the new Kingdom is to flourish. A point Luke learned by reading his Old Testament through a Jesus lens.