Take Two: Joshua 6, Proverbs 29

As I was reading this chapter (which is pretty familiar to me) I observed this great thought: "God's REALITY" and our reality are SO different!" God sees things we cannot see. He thinks things that never occur to us. He has some crazy ways of going about things. If He were not God...He's so radical...I would be scared to even follow Him.

In vv.1-2, Joshua is looking at the most heavily fortified and defended city in the region...which is completely "shut up"...meaning that the gates are closed and no one is stirring. God says: See, I have already given it into your hand. I know it looks like it clearly belongs to them, but it is yours. I know you can't even get in right now...but you can add this one to your asset list. You own it. That is INCREDIBLE!

In vv.3-16 we see a battle plan that is not reflected in military strategy today. No one says... OK, let's get the priests to lead us into battle. We will let them carry the Ark which is heavy, precious, and represents for us all that is significant. They will parade it around the city while they blow trumpets to get everyone inside to pay attention. We will do that for a week. Then...we'll all walk around the city 7 times...shout...and watch the walls fall down.

In vv.17-19 God tells them to utterly destroy everthing except for what God wanted in the treasury of the house of God so that they would not "covet" them and bring a curse on the people (v.18). In other words, while God is pretty radical, He states "up front" that trust MUST be in Him alone...or we will suffer consequences.

In vv.20-27, Judgment is executed and nothing survives except that which went into the Treasury...and Rahab and her family. Joshua even pronounces a curse on the land for anyone who would dare rebuild there.

Something crazy hit me about the Rahab story. I wonder how her family felt about her up to this point? Did her father "brag" to all his golfing buddies about how smart and business savvy his daughter was? Did her brothers carry her picture around at work and speak of how much they respected her? Probably not. Being a harlot in those days was about as glamorous as it is today. I imagine that this woman likely sat around reading books like "how to have your best life now" in hopes of feeling better about herself. Yet...she took a risk and trusted in God. She only knew about God... that He was powerful on behalf of "His people." She and her people were scared...but she risked enough to act...in hopes that she might become one of God's people.

What do you think the comments were when her family showed up at her home (which was really a home office/place of business). Don't you imagine that even her brothers (okay, especially her brothers) were poking at her a little about how she was a disappointment to the family? Don't you think her father sat in the corner and had very little to say? Yet...God used this discounted, disappointing woman who had sold her body to make a living day after day...to save her family from sheer destruction. Because of her...her family lived in the midst of God's people all of their days...because she RISKED to be with God (v.25).

In truth, there a is Rahab in every one of us. We are all the product of bad choices...and if children of God...a product of grace. Be RISKY and trust God to bring His reality to become your reality.

Proverbs 29:25 is the takeaway for me today. "The fear of man brings a snare. but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted." This connects because of the "reality" I discussed above. For those who trust in the reality of human wisdom...destruction awaits. For those who reject man's reality and embrace the "God reality," they actually don't just survive...they thrive. May God grant us grace today to reject human reality and embrace the reality of trusting in God and making decisions for God alone!