Skewed Question

At my first read, it didn't seem He answered the question. Joshua appears to have been alone--at least for a moment. He and the Israelites were camped just outside of Jericho. Maybe he was pondering how God would possibly deliver such a secure city into their hands. When he lifted his eyes he saw a Man with His sword drawn, so he asked, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?"

The first word from the Man was "No." No? That isn't an answer. It wasn't a yes or no question. He continues, "but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." (Joshua 5:13) Joshua responded by falling to his face in worship--apparently this Man was no man at all. He was God revealing Himself in bodily form. Then the Commander said, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." (5:15) So I sat for a moment, God, what does this mean? And He pressed in upon me.

This Commander was neither for the Israelites nor their adversaries, He was of the Lord's army. Joshua was asking the wrong question. None of this was about the Israelites. It wasn't about their delivery and conquest. It wasn't about them at all. It was about God. He was the One revealing Himself to the nations. He was the One fulfilling His promises. He was the One who was in the process of unfolding redemption for all peoples. He was the One worthy of praise. Joshua was looking too earthly.

In essence the Commander was saying, "I am not for you. I am not for your adversaries. I am for the Lord. The question is, will you follow Me?" We can get things so twisted at times, can't we? Our plans are devised, our dreams laid out, and then we look to God to follow us. But that is not how victories are won. A life of abundance--overflowing with peace and joy--comes when we sacrifice our agenda at the feet of the Lord and decide to follow Him, wherever He may lead.

To those who follow, He promises peace in the midst of a storm, joy that is stirred from within, and love without strings. That is ultimate living. That is victory. The Commander answered perfectly. It was the question that was skewed.

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Because Kids Will Ask

Kids ask questions--a bunch of questions. That is one way they figure out this crazy world. Just the other night at dinner my 5 year old was observing her "pet" ladybug in its plastic prison and asked, "Mommy, how do ladybugs communicate?" Yes, she said "communicate." Even my almost 2-year-old has started saying "why?"--though he doesn't really know what it means; he just knows that children are supposed ask.

God made kids this way. It is an aspect of their discovery process. He knows they will ask questions in their quest for understanding. That is one reason He instructed Joshua to set up a memorial out of stones.

God had just heaped up the waters of the Jordan river upstream so the Israelites could cross on dry ground. He then spoke to Joshua saying "Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight." (Joshua 4:3)

So Joshua called the twelve appointed men--one from each tribe--and further explained God's instruction saying, "this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off (so the Israelites could cross over)." (Joshua 4:4-7) Kids will ask. Our responsibility is to remember the faithfulness of the Lord.

We as humans so easily forget. God miraculously provides healing or renewal one day, then the next day when our needful stomachs growl we wonder if He will remain faithful. Remember...He will. Maybe going to your neighborhood creek to gather memorial stones isn't for you. But join me in thinking of ways that we as parents can place markers in our home that remind us of those specific times where the mighty hand of God rescued and fulfilled. God is worthy of our generational praise.

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See Joshua 3-4 for the full account of the Israelites crossing.

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Prostitute to Princess

From prostitute to the kingly line, Rahab is a picture of the great grace of our Lord. This woman was not an Israelite; she was from ancient Jericho. She was not a priest; she was a harlot. She did not know the depths of God's law; she had simple faith. And God used her in the lineage of His Son. That is grace.

This is the God of the Bible. He looks at the heart and simply observes our faith. Do we truly believe? With just the faith of a mustard seed, mountains move. It does not matter what you have done. It does not matter where you have been. It does not matter how far you have strayed. With just simple faith He moves in and pours His grace and love as a healing balm on those broken places. He then transforms us from the inside out, from tattered rags to royal cloaks. This is the God of the Bible.

He can use anyone, from anywhere, with any background. He simply looks to see whose gaze is pointed towards Him. In a sea of faces, scattered over this earth, will you be one who sets your eyes on Him--Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Gracious Father? Nothing is sweeter than knowing this One who gives life to the full.

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You can read about Rahab in Joshua 2 and Matthew 1:5.

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