May the mumbling commence!
The book of Joshua begins at the cusp of the Promised Land. And what does Joshua choose to do? He chooses to send a couple of spies into Jericho. He does so secretly. Why? Because that was Israel’s first response when they came to the outskirts of the Promised Land.
Had they learned nothing? It’s no wonder that Joshua sent the spies in secret. He was frightened and ashamed. When they first did this spying, it led to no good. They were given several examples of other peoples that had taken the land that the Lord had given them.
And once again, God uses a foreigner to show Israel the way. Look at the words of Rahab, the prostitute. They are from Joshua chapter two:
Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. "I know the Lord has given you this land," she told them. "We are all afraid of you. Everyone is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families." (Verses 8-13)
Rahab already knew that the Lord had given Israel the land. They had no need to scope out the land. It was theirs for the taking.
Israel was afraid? The peoples of the Promised Land were more afraid.
Rahab led the spies in remembrance – something they should have been able to do on their own. God made a path in the Red Sea for them. God destroyed the mighty kings and their kingdoms east of the Jordan River.
There’s your sign, Israel. Their enemies were melting in terror. There is no fight left in them.
Then listen to the great confession of Rahab: For the Lord you God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. If the spies and Israel were not ashamed, they should have been!
Yes, God uses those people outside the family of faith to get our attention. Its happens again and again. Read from Luke chapter twenty-three:
By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the thick veil hanging in the Temple was torn apart. Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last.
When the captain of the Roman soldiers handling the executions saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Surely this man was innocent." And when the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw all that had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. But Jesus' friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching. (Verses 44-49)
Sorrow and detachment was the response of most of the Jews when Jesus died on the cross. But a Roman soldier saw and praised God and recognized Jesus as an innocent man. Help us, O Lord, to learn to listen and see the examples of godly people outside the family of faith.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
No comments:
Post a Comment