Joshua 6-8
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…
Dickens was thinking simultaneously; I am thinking sequentially.
Best of times. Fresh off the fabulous beginning we looked at yesterday, Joshua journeyed on to Jericho, the city doomed to be destroyed first. Joshua fit the battle of Jericho…and the walls came a-tumblin’ down! Joshua won the battle because he obeyed the Lord’s imaginative directives. Did the people feel foolish marching around the city each day for seven days? Did they feel extra foolish when Joshua commanded them to encircle the town seven times on the seventh day? Maybe, but they did it. At Joshua’s command, the trumpets blared and the people gave a shout…and the walls came a-tumblin’ down; all of them, except the small section that had a scarlet cord tied to the window. That section stood by the faith of Rahab, who believed in God, trusted that God had chosen Israel, lived out her faith by hiding Joshua’s spies by tying the cord in the window. She and everyone with her was saved and incorporated into the people of Israel! Grace for believing Gentiles in the Old Testament!
Worst of times. As great as their victory at Jericho was, so great was their fall at Ai, the small town with a small name. Because Achan had disobeyed the “no spoils” command of God, the Israelites were pummeled by the tiny town. As a child, when I read how Achan’s sin was exposed, I trembled with the truth: Be sure your sin will find you out! As the casting of the lot draws closer and closer, I could imagine Achan sweating. Why was I so concerned? Because his sin is no different from mine. Once Achan had been removed, victory over Ai was assured. Nevertheless, Joshua rightly renewed the Covenant with that massive antiphonal responsive reading of the blessings and curses on Mounts Gerizim and Ebal! They needed this incredible reminder. Moses knew they would.
I guess God is constantly dealing with us in the best of times and the worst of times.
Until tomorrow,
Pastor Gary
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