SCRIPTURE: Joshua 8:18-29

OBSERVATION:
This scene sounds like it would make a great action movie. But it does not fit with the new covenant stage of God’s plan. God worked within the culture and context of the old covenant (Joshua would likely have been hung by a tree, the people burned by the Canaanites as well, those were the times). I may not like it, I may be sickened by it, but remember, God did not create this culture, we did. And the very fact that we are sickened by it is because we have a Christ-formed conscience. Regardless of the failures of the Church throughout history, the values of human rights and justice and freedom come to us through the Church’s teaching of the message of Jesus.

God’s revelation comes to us THROUGH history, and it is unfolding in stages. We cannot carelessly apply old covenant practices (slavery, warfare, polygamy, temple worship, etc.) as new covenant practices. With the coming of Jesus, something BIG has changed. We can affirm the power and purpose of God, we can affirm the sin and violence of man, we can celebrate the patience and mercy of God, and we can thankfully recognize that through this unfolding plan, Jesus has come. Everything has changed!

APPLICATION:
This story reminds me of the ugliness of sin, death, violence, the cultures of this world. It reminds me of how far we have fallen from God’s original paradise. It reminds me how serious the war against sin is, and how ugly the battle can become. It challenges me to take the message of Jesus as seriously as the Israelites did the message of Joshua. Am I as diligent in fighting the good fight of grace, mercy, peace, love, forgiveness, compassion, generosity? Am I totally dedicated to the cause of Jesus?

PRAYER:
Lord, I cannot gloss over the ugliness of this story, the violence and death are sickening to me. Realizing that this is not how You designed things to be, I repent of my part in this, and ask for Your help in rebuilding Your paradise… through me! Amen.