Choose Wisely

I doubt there’s anyone here that doesn’t know Tuesday is Election Day. You may have already voted early. We can look forward to Tuesday’s TV or radio news coverage about the voting turnout, and the partial results all day, then into the night when the results are projected and winners announced. Some will have voted for their preferences of candidates and issues, others will vote for their political party’s choices. Candidate’s values will rarely agree entirely with our own, but polls and voting tallies track what various groups supported. Parties want to know how general groups voted, such as minority, gender, and religious groups, even in geographical sectors in order to develop future platforms and gain needed support. Even if you didn’t vote for the winning candidate or issues, it will have been your opportunity to express your opinions and values. Your vote can further influence the direction of our country that can ultimately impact your way of life. Your vote counts not only in this election, but may well influence candidates for future elections. So, it’s important that you vote. I’m not here to influence who you vote for, but rather to influence the values your votes reflect.

So, this morning, we’re going to be talking about making value based choices, not for the sake of this election, but those that influence our spiritual life and daily living.

As a veteran, and the head of a household, I have always appreciated our OT lesson for this morning. God had chosen Joshua to take command of Israel as it began its military conquest of the land God had promised to Abraham. God had established His laws and expectations of Israel that shaped the values of that people during their 40 year desert journey under Moses. Remember they had been slaves in Egypt and had taken on many Egyptian values and their false gods, and had fallen away from their Hebrew roots. Joshua had been Moses’ aide during the journey, and had come to know and trust God. When Moses sent the12 spies into Canaan to scout the land, it was Joshua and Caleb who returned and were ready to trust the Lord and enter the Promised Land. But the people chose to listen to the other ten spies who saw the inhabitants as being too big, too strong to conquer, and refused to enter the land. Consequently, God would have them wait forty more years and name the God fearing, Joshua the leader to take them in.

Our passage from Joshua takes place many years and many battles later in conquering the land. Joshua had probably lived longer than he expected to, and is now old and has chosen to retire. He’s addressing the nation of Israel, reminding them of the history of their conquests under God’s care. They had won decisive battles with God’s leading, like the battle of Jericho, when God caused the thick walls to fall when Israel did exactly as God had directed, resulting in not even one Israelite being killed or wounded.

They had not conquered by their own abilities, but through God’s protection. They were living in cities they had not built, eaten from vineyards and olive groves they hadn’t planted, but that God had delivered to them. But now it was time to begin living in the land, and Joshua is blunt as he lays it on the line with commands rather than suggestions. Fear the Lord. Serve Him with all faithfulness. They had seen the power of the Lord time after time, battle after battle. They had come to know that God would expect certain things of them, as well as the consequences of failing to do so. Joshua tells them to fear the Lord, as is in respecting His power, but also knowing His discipline. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge, not as in being afraid of Him, but knowing what His power can do. For example, we should fear electricity, knowing its power to do great things, yet knowing that improper handling can have fatal results. Fear of the Lord allows us to do great things when we trust and obey Him.

He tells them to serve God with all faithfulness. Notice the standard of service Joshua demands: “with all faithfulness.” He doesn’t leave room for casual faith, but total faithfulness. Not just serving God when it’s convenient, or when things are going well, or when life is easy. Not faith on our terms. He commands them to throw away the idols of false gods they may have been brought from Egypt. The generation that had left Egypt had all passed away, and some may have continued to worship the gods of their ancestors. But God has no tolerance for anything that detracts from the love of His people.