Faith and the Promise of Miracles

Synopsis     Joshua 12:23-13:10     5/04/2018

The Lord spoke to Joshua. He told him that, although Joshua was now old and advanced in years, there was still land that needed to be conquered. He instructed Joshua to include these lands in the distribution to the tribes, even though much of it did not yet belong to Israel.

God promised to drive out the inhabitants from the remaining parts of the Promised Land.

Apportion the Land That Has Yet to Be Conquered

God told Joshua to apportion land to the tribes that had not yet been conquered, as though it had been conquered. The Israelites in those tribes had to have faith that God would actually complete the work of conquest.

Faith and the Promise of Miracles

There is a lot to this idea. Imagine yourself belonging to a tribe that received as an inheritance land that had not yet be conquered. What’s that worth?

It would be a little like knowing an inventor who promised to give you a sum of money once his invention sold – all you have to do is invest a little in his idea. It feels a little speculative. As a matter of practical investing, this would only seem like a good investment under one of two conditions:

1. Risk/Reward Calculation – You can afford to lose the money and the upside potential makes taking the risk worth it.
2. Through intelligent reasoning, you completely trust the inventor to accomplish exactly what he said he would do.

Perhaps the greatest question in any spiritual journey is whether I trust the creator. In the Christian sense, this is what it means to have faith.

Givenness: Is the thing I encounter the result of the purposeful intention of the person of God, or merely the determined outcome of physics? That’s the thing I need to decide. Because believing in God makes everything possible. But believing in the other way makes almost nothing possible and it makes everything meaningless.

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:5-6

Battles and Memorials

Synopsis     Joshua 12:4-22     5/02/2018

A recounting and remembrance of the thirty-one kings whom the Israelites had defeated behind the leadership of God and his servants Moses and Joshua.

Remembering and the Military Campaigns

The writer wanted to ensure that these remarkable military campaigns were not forgotten. As brief as the description is, the goal of the writing was to ensure that the people, places and circumstances of each of these triumphs would remain present to the people.

Battles and Memorials

No one chooses to marry a partner simply because the other person once expressed interest in becoming more familiar. No thoughtful person would entrust their heart in so cavalier a manner. Similarly, no one follows God very long simply because God once answered an urgent prayer. Our memories fade too quickly. We question – was that really God acting or just a flukish coincidence?

It’s the consistency that builds both trust and confidence in a relationship. It’s the memory of shared moments like these that make a relationship unassailable. So we make up systems by which we can remember important moments.

Every modern military force uses personal decorations as a way to celebrate the contribution of each individual soldier. Multi-colored ribbons and medals made from precious elements are worn on the chest as a reminder of the virtues it took in order to be successful. If you ask, every soldier can tell you the exact circumstances by which they received each of their decorations.

Statues and memorials frame every town square in an effort to keep the community tied to its heritage of overcoming determination.

Our churches are rightly filled with the reminders of God’s faithfulness – and so, when I go, I am reminded.

But where in me do I celebrate the persistent goodness of God. How do I wear that like a badge of honor? Worthy device it may be, this is going to take more than a cross around my neck.

“Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil” Eph 6:11

A Land Conquered a Moment of Rest

Synopsis     Joshua 11:16-12:3     5/02/2018

In these two campaigns, Joshua captured cities in both the southern and northen parts of the Promised Land. Only the Hivites who lived in Gibeon (the Gibeonites) were spared. Joshua had also annihilated the Anakim who remained in the mountain regions. Although some of the Anakim did survive in Gaza.

Then the land had rest from war.

A Land Conquered A Moment of Rest

We make these gains and in those moments it seems like the good that has come to us will never end. But a  victory, or even a string of victories, doesn’t mean there won’t be more challenges – more battles to fight.

The reprieve is good. A day of rest to prepare for the week to come is a delight. But the intent is to have the freedom to meet the challenges of the week ahead.

So praise and rest and rejoice. But ready yourself – tomorrow comes with a new set of challenges and possibilities.

“Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus” Phil 3:13

Take Nothing For Your Journey

Synopsis     Joshua 11:4-15     5/01/2018

A great army was assembled and came out against Israel. God reassured Joshua. Joshua attacked the assembled forces suddenly and aggressively at Meron.

Joshua and the Israelites defeated the allied armies. In accordance with God’s command, Joshua hamstrung all the horses of the enemy and burned all their chariots. He then proceeded to capture the northern cities from which the soldiers had come, just as he had done in the south.

Burn the Chariots and Hamstring the Horses

Chariots are the stuff of kings. God was not looking for Israel to become a military power. Even amongst all this terrible violence, He wasn’t interested in building a culture of violence and military conquest.

Take Nothing for Your Journey

It’s so easy to get caught up in the stuff. If only I had this thing. Or if only I had those kinds of connections. Maybe fame or power would allow more impact. It’s just in me to think this way.

And there’s the real challenge. How much safer would Joshua have felt with a thousand chariots? How much more powerful? How much more secure?

What will it take for me to feel secure?

“When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” Luke 12:12

Home is Where the Hearth Is

Synopsis     Joshua 10:34-11:3     4/30/2018

The military conquest of the southern part of the Promised Land continued. All of the nations that had made an alliance to fight Israel were defeated in battle. As soon as the battle was won, Joshua pushed his troops to lay siege to the cities where the troops had come from. Without their warriors to defend them, each of the cities was rapidly defeated.

Once the southern campaign was complete. Joshua and the army returned to Gilgal. Jabin, king of Hazor heard about Joshua’s conquest. As a result, he began a coalition of city-states from the northern parts of the Promised Land.

Return to Gilgal

With all this successful military adventure it’s worth remembering that most of the children of Israel – including the majority of the military, remained at the camp at Gilgal.

Joshua’s return was not only a moment for rejoicing in triumphant victory, but a recognition that the main body of Israelites was still vulnerable. The people were still living in tents and eating from the rich agricultural harvest that the Canaanites had planted before being displaced.

Home is Where the Hearth Is

Joshua recognized the centrality of the family. Military conquest meant little to the Israelites if the families were vulnerable and unstable.

The spiritual journey is a sometimes lonely way – even for someone living in community. In the Way of Givenness everyone must come to terms with the God of creation individually but not independently. Community is the basic ingredient by which each human being might rightly hope to unlock their personal genius – their God given purpose. And family is the first community.

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”  Matt 12:48

The Waiting of Pregnancy

Synopsis     Joshua 10:24-33     4/29/2018

Joshua executed the five kings who had been hiding in a cave. He hung their bodies on a tree until evening. He buried them in the cave where they had hidden. Joshua then captured Makkadah. After this, he immediately attacked and defeated Libnah, leaving no survivors. He did the same to Lachish and to Horam, a king from Gezer, who had come to the aid of Lachish.

A String of Rapid Victories

The faith of the Gibeonites was to recognize that the God of Israel was the true God against whom they were defenseless. This caused them to trick Joshua into making a covenant. But the covenant between Gibeon and Israel caused many of the other nations to come out in force against Gibeon.

This was the perfect setup for Israel to engage multiple city-states in only a few days in time. As a result, much of the southern part of the Promised Land was won over to Israel almost instantly.

The Waiting of Pregnancy

A woman with child waits. The child grows inside of her. The waiting is uncomfortable and awkward. And then, suddenly, there is this explosion of energy in labor. And then there is the long-awaited child born into the world.

The children of Israel had waited a long time. They waited at the mountain. They waited in the desert. They waited by the river. Forty years. And then, within a couple of months from the crossing, much of the promised land had become theirs. Like a lightning bolt striking a tree – everything changed in a moment.

Perhaps you’ve been waiting – patiently waiting for God to move in your life. Things haven’t turned out like you imagined. You feel like a loser. You wonder if following God was a foolishness caprice that should have been ignored. But deep-down you know it was none of those things – and you’re wondering if today is the day that everything changes.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” 1Cor 15:52

The Day the Lord Obeyed the Voice of a Man

Synopsis     Joshua 10:22-23     4/28/2018

The armies of the five kings broke and fled downhill. As Joshua’s army gave chase, God brought a large, destructive hailstorm so fierce that it is said to have killed more of the enemy army that even those who died in battle.

Joshua prayed that the sun would “stand still” in order to have more time to continue the fight – and God made the sun stand still.

The five kings were found hiding in a cave together. Joshua gave the order to seal them in with stones and guards and then continue the fight.

The Day the Lord Obeyed the Voice of a Man

“Never before or since was there a day like this, when the Lord obeyed the voice of a man”.

Joshua prayed to God in accordance with his need and God did as Joshua asked. It’s a strange thought – “God obeyed a man”. What might that mean? The God of all creation obeyed the voice of a created man.

Obeyed!?

Jesus Gave Authority

Jesus sent the apostles and disciples out in pairs and conferred on them authority to cast out demons and to heal disease.

The idea of giving authority has this element of blank check. The disciples were given authority and power – men were vested with the power of God. They could, through prayer, heal disease and cast out demons.

I have not really grasped the power that God has made available to the average human being. What we might do if only we were free!

You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet John 13:12

The Time to Act is Now

Synopsis     Joshua 9:27-10:10     4/27/2018

The cities neighboring the Gibeonites were fearful of Israel because of the defeat and destruction of Jericho and Ai. They were further terrorized that the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel.

Adonizedek, king over ancient Jerusalem, formed a coalition of Amorite kings to fight against the Gibeonites and Israel. They began by laying siege to Gibeon.

The Gibeonites made a distress call to Joshua. Joshua conferred with God. He then executed an overnight march from Gilgal and made a surprise attack on the armies of the five kings. The armies were thrown into confusion and were defeated.

Forced March

This  has been lost on me.  Gibeon was a two and a half day march from Gilgal. Joshua went before the Lord and confirmed the course of action. In his determination to act on God’s command, the Israelite army force marched the entire journey in a single night.

He then immediately engaged the allied armies of the five kings and defeated them.

The Time to Act is Now

History buffs like to say, “History favors the bold”. As far as history goes, I suspect the appropriate response is a qualified – Maybe.

But it is true that action flows from the experience of value. When there is certainty concerning what’s good or right or even beautiful, you will act.

When it happens, you will act despite your fears. You will act without regard to naysayers. You will act even if there is nothing in it for you.

“whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” Phil 4:8

Only That Which Can Endure, Will Endure

Synopsis     Joshua 9:17-26     4/26/2018

Because of the covenant the Israelites made with the Gibeonites, they did not destroy the three Gibeonites cities. Even though the Gibeonites had tricked them, the Israelite leaders remained true to the covenant they had made. The Israelites grumbled. This was an irritation to the people, who seemed to express dissatisfaction with the leaders.  Everyone recognized that the leaders had made a serious mistake.

For their part, Joshua and the leaders expressed their frustration with the Gibeonites for having deceived them. Demanding an explanation for their conduct, the Gibeonites responded by laying out their circumstances – “we were next to be destroyed by the God of Israel, we did what we had to in order to survive.”

The leaders’ solution was to exact what they could from the Gibeonites  without violating the covenant they had entered into. So they enslaved the Gibeonites and made them do menial tasks that benefitted the people.  The Gibeonites gladly accepted this arrangement as the price of being left alive.

Desperation, Invention and Response

They say that “necessity is the mother of invention”. Seeing their options as either certain death or else forced slavery, the Gibeonites chose slavery. They creatively responded to their circumstances in a way that was curiously in harmony with God’s plan.

Not Great Enough

I encounter the Jesus of scripture in the context of what seems to be a stable culture. Israel was that stable culture. It was an ancient nation that, despite its small size, had survived. It’s people had overcome diaspora. They had maintained their identity despite the exile to Babylon. They had returned and rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple. The Jews of Jesus’ time were the “shoot from the root of Jesse”. They thought of themselves as the authentic remnant. What’s more, they had achieved that which all of their ancestors had failed to do – they practically eliminated idol worship among Jewish people.

Despite all this, there was something not right in Israel. Though certain aspects of life and culture seemed stable, the deeper reality was deeply flawed. The stability of New Testament Israel was actually forced and intrinsically unstable. It was like a marble perfectly balanced on the top of an upside down bowl – any wrong move was likely to bring the marble down.

Self-organized criticality is like this. A house of cards must eventually fall. What is enduring about faith in God was once again about to be challenged. But it was for this very purpose that Jesus came – not to sustain culture per se; He came to start a fire. He came to burn anything that could be burned. He said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword” Matt 10:34

There’s this quiet but energetic woman – Mother Theresa. She once said, “Never be afraid to be a contradiction”. This is the stuff that endures.

Invest wisely and remember that only that which can endure, will endure.

He said to them in reply, “You see all these things, do you not? Amen, I say to you, there will not be left here a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Matt 24:2

Taking God Out of the Equation

Synopsis     Joshua 9:6-16     4/25/2018

The Gibeonites tricked Joshua and the leaders of Israel into making an inappropriate covenant with them. They feared Israel. They wanted to save their lives. So they sent emissaries to the Israelite camp who had carefully staged their appearance in order to convince Joshua and the Israelite leaders that they were from a distant land.

The law of Moses empowered the Israelites to make a covenant with distant nations, but not nations from within the Promised Land. The leaders naively accepted the Gibeonite story that they were from a distant land. So, they made a covenant without bringing the situation before the Lord.

Forgetting About God

It’s the easiest thing in the world to do. Circumstances present themselves in such a way that a decision seems immediately necessary when, in fact, it’s not.

Joshua and the elders felt the pressure of making a decision concerning the Gibeonites while the emissaries were present. The Gibeonites had positioned Joshua. They knew more about him and the God of Israel than he did about them. Like an accomplished high-pressure salesmen, they persuaded the Israelite leaders of their value proposition and pressed Joshua for an immediate answer.

Perhaps the Israelite leaders didn’t want to seem indecisive. Perhaps they were satisfied with the Gibeonites story. Whatever it was, they failed to consult God, who was always immediately available to them at the Tent of Meeting.

Like children playing so intently they forget the time, the leaders simply forgot about God. They took their eyes off what mattered most for a few minutes and that’s all it took – they were seduced.

Taking God Out of the Equation

God is a person – not a human person – but a person none-the-less. He has created purposefully. This is a fundamental Christian claim. His purpose is the “why” of existence.

For me, to not consider God’s purpose is the essence of immorality. This is what it means to sin: To act with indifference towards God. It is essential injustice. Conversely, responding to the circumstances of my life in the light and context of His purpose is what it means to be righteous. Joshua’s moral failure was born out of interpreting his circumstances without considering God’s purposes. For a moment, he lost his empathy for God. He interpreted the Gibeonite emissaries as a mere interpersonal relationship between men.

The goal is to seek after God’s heart in all the circumstances of my life – to be attuned to God. This is freedom. And in this lies the possibility of my life made actual. This way of givenness is the genius of God manifest in a particular human life.

‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ Acts 13:22