So maybe you’ve heard it said, ‘read your bible’ so you tried the one year plan. You were faithful with the reading plan and then you came to Leviticus. You tried to read it but every time you picked up The Book it got heavier and heavier until you stopped picking it up. You gave yourself an out - not enough time, new schedule, lack of clarity in what you read and even an admission that this book didn’t seem all that helpful in your spiritual walk. All of which are understandable if this was an assignment from your High School English class to read Shakespeare But this is God’s Word curated over centuries detailing His nature, His will, the meaning of life and humanity’s historical interactions with Him. Seriously, the Bible details the hidden keys to the Kingdom. Hence, the reason we are reviewing a new book each week.
This week we move to the book of Joshua. A book reminding us that we worship a God of second chances. Though the Israelites wasted their first opportunity to enter the promised land, God gave the next generation a chance to learn from the previous generation. The resulting story is the inspiring result of their conquest and settlement of the land.
The author of the book is disputed by scholars. Some say Joshua, others Eleazar and Phinehas. While the book of Deuteronomy is about the importance of fully devoting yourself to God, Joshua is about God’s faithfulness to his promises even when it means offering us second and third chances.
Because God “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” as F. Scott Fitzgerald once said. As well as that “Forgiveness doesn’t mean accepting someone’s apology. It means fully understanding that the person who made a mistake is worthy of a second chance.”
One of my favorite stories in scripture is the story of Jericho in Joshua 5-6. The whole story is amazing. It goes like this….(tell the story up to the point the walls fall and chaos reigns - Chapter 2 & Chapter 6)
Now jump to Joshua 6:22 and let's listen to the story of Rahab’s second chance.
Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.
24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.
If you were reading that for the first time, you might think it's a nice story. The Israelites lived up to their word. However, like this whole book describes God's faithfulness to His promise. This scriptures sheds light to the extent of God’s faithfulness.
Not only did Rahab house not fall down in the event, she and her entire family were able to wait out the bloodshed in safety. God saved and protected Rahab because of her faith (Hebrews 11:31). These non Jews were rescued from fiery judgment because of their trust in Jehovah. A trust which would not only have them grafted into God’s chosen ones but also be recognized as the line from which King David would be born. A man after God’s own heart, great great grandma was a prostitute. Talk about family Passover dinner discussions after Aunt Mary has had too many glasses of cabernet. Ooh Vey! However, the story would change 28 generations later when that great great grandmother would also be a matriarch in the line from which Jesus would be born.
Honestly, it’s been humbling to think that God's promise and His will are so interwoven, not only in the past and present, but in the future. God is taking into account all that is happening and has happened but also the future to write the overarching narrative of humanity.
When people surrender their lives to Him and remain faithful, teaching the next generations to do likewise, it changes not only their lives but all those who follow.
So how do we apply this knowledge?
If there is anyone you think is beyond God’s reach (including yourself), it’s time to repent. There is not one human who God will reject, if they submit and commit.
If he can use an active prostitute or madam, there is nothing you or someone else can do, that can’t be redeemed. There is no unpardonable sin for those who believe in the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.
We have an obligation to never suggest anyone is beyond God’s reach. We are not the judge because we have limited knowledge. Like the devil can’t see the future. We can’t fully see what is taking place all around us. Further proof of this comes just before this story at the end of Joshua 5 when Joshua encounters the commander of the Lord’s army. When asked by Joshua, if the commander was for or against them, he retorts, “Neither” (Joshua 5:14). God is fighting the battle or battles all around us. We need only recognize our role as servants on HOLY GROUND to serve ALL those who come into our realm of influence.
We take the spiritual training of the next generation seriously. The more mature must train the less mature. Discipleship must become a greater part of all our interactions if we are going to be true to the great commission. And that includes parents and grandparents. We must become trusted confidants with our kids and their kids so that we can dive into the moral and ethical dilemmas of a child’s life, to discuss the options and provide direction.
I’m not sure if the disciples understood all this when they were sitting around the table with Jesus on that final Passover meal. Bur they would come to understand in very short order that God is always faithful to His promises to all who recognize that we are on His Holy Ground and in His Holy Mission to save as many souls as possible.
Creative: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/Joshua/ 8:38
References: Quest Bible Overviews, Warren Wiersbe Commentary pg.46-47
