Joshua, part 2
Holy War
When have you ever stood before leadership greatness?
This week Mary Lu and I have watched multiple interviews with Laura Bush and her daughters. The sweetest times in the interview were when the girls told of reading stories of their mother’s passion to have children and her joy in their childhood. She presents herself as a tremendously humble, quiet leader in support. All of them wished for President Obama’s family a protection from the wounds of politic.
Dueteronomy is the second reading of the law. Moses gathers the people at the edge of the Promised land and presents the most important things they will need to know as they follow true leadership into the land God has given to them. He cautions them with the following; Not Because of Israel’s Righteousness
1 Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. 2 The people are strong and tall—Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?” 3 But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
4 After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. 5 It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 6 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
The danger of success in clouding our humility is untenable. It is just as true of us today that we will begin ascribing our blessings to our performance or productivity. Notice in this passage two things. One, God is not whimsical in His destruction. He uses the Israelites to bring the vengeance that is perfectly measured to fit the deserts of the nations in the land. Second, the Israelites are none better. They are a stubborn and stiff-necked people.
So when the author of the divinely inspired stories of Joshua wrote the end of Joshua chapter one, he knew what the people before him needed to hear. The way back to God’s favor from the exile was just like the pattern that was outlined for those who followed Joshua. “…Just as we followed Moses we will follow you.” “If anyone doesn’t obey Joshua, we will kill him.” Only let not God leave you in your leadership.
My friend, perhaps you need a radical obedience today. Even in these few lines you know in your heart there is sinful disobedience to the leadership the Lord has given you? Who are you serving today? Why? How? Jesus said, “If your hand cause you to sin, cut it off. If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.” What you need today to find the true worship of the Lord is a radical obedience to the Davidide seated on His throne. The leaders of the tribes said to Joshua, not only will we follow you, but whoever doesn’t follow you, we will kill. Strong words. What do they say to you?
You need to know your calling and do it. You need to obey the voice of the King who speaks for your Heavenly Father.
You need to pray for those who are in your leadership that the strategy for taking the land before you will be abundantly clear. Every person among you should clearly understand exactly how their gifts and talents are used today for the Kingdom. If they are not, then your community should ask the Lord on your behalf. I have asked our Small group to pray for me. Pray that our community will know the Lord’s presence in our community and for what task. We want the fullness of the Spirit’s work, “for the common good.” I Cor. 12. We ask not for ourselves, but for your Kingdom, Lord. Take from us the sense of our entitlement to measure our participation and give us the obedience that was lifted before your people wondering, “How will we get His blessing back?” How will you know the fullness of the Spirit today?
Obey your leaders. Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will grant you repentance, yet today.
Ted
