When we read passages like Joshua 7:26-, we are troubled by the idea that God condones capital punishment and also that this guilty man's family has been executed as well as him. But we are not at liberty to simply discard the passage or say, "that was OT and no longer has relevance". We need to ask what this tells us about God and what it tells us about us.
I guess what it tells us about us is mostly plain in that we do things we know to be wrong but it also implies that our sin not only affects other people but it infects other people. People guilty of sin are punished therefore if Achan's family were punished, it must mean before God that they are guilty of sin. How could this be so? Well we could assume they knew about it and did nothing but other OT passages reinforce the idea that sin or at least uncleanness is contagious. If uncleanness is contagious, how much more would sin - the ultimate uncleanness - be contagious as well?
What does this mean for us? At the very least we should take responsibility for the damage we inflict on others when we choose to sin. Sin most often comes after pride or self-pity (which is pride!) so if we keep humble, accept that we are weak and bring all of ourselves before God, then He is able to be gracious and help us in our weak moments.
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