Achan’s story is a sober warning. Israel had just seen God’s power in the fall of Jericho, yet one man’s covetousness brought devastation on the whole community. Achan saw, coveted, took, and hid. The pattern is familiar: desire takes root, secrecy follows, and destruction comes.

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Materialism often works in the same way. What begins as innocent admiration becomes craving, then grasping, then bondage. We hide what we acquire, thinking it is ours alone, but hidden idols always bring consequences—not only for us but for others around us.

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The gospel calls us into the light. What is hidden in the tent must be brought to God. Breaking free from materialism often requires confession and release. Freedom comes not in burying treasures but in surrendering them to the Shepherd who provides all we need.