Archive for the ‘Joshua’ Category

Day 104: Joshua 23:1-16 — Have We Learned the Lesson of History?

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

history collageAs I read our text for today from Joshua 23:1-16, I thought this might be the text I would liked used for my funeral. This is sometimes called “The last sermon of the dying hero and leader.” It is a literary form used to preach to an audience. Covenant theology is an important theme in these texts. In the context of Joshua’s day, the message is a warning. Rest is not the final word for life in the promised land. Temptation is still present and can easily overpower the people if they are not careful. Blessing can last only as long as total faithfulness to Yahweh continues. When Israel begins to experiment with other gods, trying to be like the nations and worship every god possible, trouble is imminent. They could lose the promised land. They could end up wandering around searching for a home. They could experience destruction, death, and disintegration of their identity as the people of God.

The sad thing is that this is exactly what happened. Israel was lured in by her culture. The temptation to be like others resulted in a divided monarchy, a loss of the land, a loss of their worship system, and judgment by God. During the exile, Israel must have wondered if their God has fought and lost? If so, maybe they need another god, one who can fight and win with modern weaponry and in modern political reality? The answer to this question is that it is the wrong question to ask. The answer is not in political power in the short term. The answer is the longer historical perspective. God proved his power to conquer long ago. The exile only proves God’s power to be self-consistent as he fulfilled His word even when it had negative consequences. The real issue is whether Israel has learned the lesson of history.

I wonder if we have learned from our history. The amazing thing is that we seem to be experiencing the same historical difficulties. Have we let the false gods of our world intermingle among us to the point that the church is now a pluralistic entity? Are we ready to face our own disloyalty, our own faithlessness, are we ready to repent, are we ready to recommit to our God and trust in Him through thick and thin? I wonder as a Christian that mourns our loss of values, morals, and identity if God is not trying to provide us with the grace of a warning to return to Him? God has proved his power to conquer long ago. Our exile only proves God’s power to be self-consistent as He continues to fulfill His word even when it may have negative consequences. The real issue is whether we have learned the lesson of history.

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Posted in Deuteronomy, God, God's Word, Joshua, Obedience, Rest, Worship | 1 Comment »

Day 102: Joshua 16:1-19:9; Luke 8:4-21 — Weeding and planting and harvest

Monday, April 12th, 2010

The good soil produces a crop.So much detail, detail, detail. The land went which way to what? Hurriedly skimming the layout of the land, we rush the reading. But to the Israelite, “This is my homeland, this is what God has given me.” Then the fateful detail on which we stop, but they “skimmed,” they did not drive out the Canaanites. Thus the continuing tale, “Israel, do you trust me? Will you be faithful to me? I have prepared a home for you. Will you take the blessing?” Readings in the days ahead are woefully replete, recounting the incomplete rendering of heart and soul to God, and so the failure to fully take that land of promise, leaving the pockets of resistance, leaving the evil weeds in the land that will destroy any planting the God would do with them. They will find that they receive blessing in the same measure of dedication, faith, and holy determination with which they enter and work the land.

The sower went out to sow. How familiar. In some applications I am the sower, spread the Word to all, each person in the world must take responsibility for preparation and response. But in today’s reading think in terms of my life and its readiness for the blessing God has prepared for me. In a mixture of figures, I am both the field and the one who prepares the field for the seed. I must be ready and open each day, focused, determined to accept the planting of blessing in my life, work to be done, opportunities to be taken to glorify the Father in whatever situation that presents itself today. Weeded, land turned, leaving no “Canaanite” ways or influences in my life, I must be determined that the victorious taking of this day becomes reality as I work through the day with the Father.

Holy, Righteous Father, may my heart, soul, and body be prepared for the planting You will do and the reaping that will come. Help me work, to persevere with an eye to joy that the hard work of holy living will bring. Use me to help others to take the day, open me to accept Your help from others as they do the same in my field of life and endeavor.

Question: As you look into today, what do you see? Are your fields ready for the planting and harvesting of blessing?

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Posted in Joshua, Luke | 1 Comment »

Day 98: Joshua 9 — Who’s in charge here?

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Word sure seemed to travel far and wide in the days before the internet — and I’m not talking about the ’60s either. Think about what Rahab told the two spies — the people of Jericho had heard how God had parted the Red Sea, and how they had destroyed the Amorites. Their hearts melted and courage failed, she said (Joshua 2:10-11). Now we see a group of Hivites claiming to be “from a very distant country”, telling Joshua they too had heard about the Amorites’ fate, and that of Jericho (Joshua 9:3-13).

It had been quite some time since the battle with Sihon and Og (Numbers 21:21-35), and even longer since the crossing of the Red Sea, so I suppose it wouldn’t have been that big a deal for the legend of the Israelites and their God to have spread throughout the known world. But Jericho? That battle was a lot more recent, probably only a few weeks before Joshua’s meeting with the Gibeonites.

So when these men came to Joshua saying they’re from a distant country and have heard these things, he must’ve swelled with pride. That’s just my guess; Scripture doesn’t say. But he was a man, after all, and certainly subject to human pride. That would also help explain a critical error on his part.

The men of Israel…did not inquire of the LORD. (Joshua 9:14)

This is (I think) the first time this particular failure is mentioned of anyone, but it’s certainly not the last. We have…

  • King Saul, who sought out a witch so he could bring his problems to the spirit of Samuel (1 Samuel 28),
  • King Ahaziah, who sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub (which means Lord of the Flies, BTW) instead of asking God whether he would recover from his injury (2 Kings 1), and
  • King Asa, who relied on the king of Syria instead of God (2 Chronicles 16).

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

So what have we learned from the instruction of these negative examples? If you take nothing else away, take this — God is in control, whether we seek Him or not. We can neither add anything to God nor take anything away from Him because of our actions or our faith or lack thereof. But we can certainly make our own life a lot easier and stress-free if we seek Him first (Matthew 6:33).

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Posted in faith, Joshua, Prayer | 1 Comment »