Take Two: Joshua 10, Proverbs 2

A couple of key observations will help in understanding this narrative in chapter 10. First, all of the actions taken by Joshua and the people were directed by the Lord and they were carried out exactly as give (Josh 10:40). Because of his obedience, God actually fought for His people and brought about overwhelming victory (Josh 10:42). Second, while Joshua and the Isaelites are the recipients of God's blessings here...that is not the point. The point is that the people are actually instruments of God's blessings/judgment as He judges the people in the land (the Amorites, etc.)

God judges sin. The people who lived in these lands were extremely wicked people. God is exercising judgment on them...even to the point of a giant hailstorm (Josh 10:11), and causing the sun to stand still so as to finish the judgment against them (Josh 10:12-14). The Israelites are an instrument of God's judgment against the people.

Now many questions come to our mind. Did the people ever have a chance to hear about God? How can God judge people so harshly? How can He have mercy on Israel (they mess up) and not be merciful toward these people?

All of these questions presuppose information that may not be true. We know that the reputation of God's people and how God had delievered them was widespread. We know that many of these nations were aware of how God was exercising great power to conquer the land through and for Israel. Yet...where is the cry for mercy from the Amorites? Where is the seeking of information about the God who has shown Himself powerful on Israel's behalf? The actions we see in the inhabitants of the land is a self-reliance, a desire/act to stop God, and deception to preserve oneself. All of these responses are man-centered and fail ultimately to provide for these people.

God is showing Himself to be more powerful than anything these people were relying on. He does this for the confidence of Israel...and for the testimony before these people. Those who respond...asking for mercy...receive it. To date...that number includes Rahab. (Now you see part of why I identified these people as extremely wicked.)

Perhaps you read this narrative in Joshua and think, "That is a lot of killing! Why is the detail of judgment against them so important to give?" I think it is because sin is ugly and there is only one way to deal with sin. Yes...all sin. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). For those who will not repent of sin...the Joshua narrative is the future.

As long as Israel follows the Lord's directives to the letter, they are experienceing great victory. When they do not...they experience the judgment of God (which is also seen in the removal of blessing). Wow! If that is true, when we live outside of the directives of God, we lose His blessing (since He will not bless disobedience)...meaning we live under God's judgment. That should motivate us to look deeply into our lives to see what areas we are not living according to God's directives!

Proverbs 2:10-12 is the takeaway today. As I read these verses many face came to mind. The Word of God is a guard for us to keep us from evil. Many of those who I have known who have "fallen away" have done so gradually. They first began to be "too busy" to prioritize church where they would hear and have God's Word applied. Then they would digress in their associations. Ultimately, they would take a complacent/indifferent view of evil (as God defines it)...and even digress to embracing evil in their own actions. The wisdom of God, God's Word, protects us and delivers us from these things. The pathway to experiencing this evil...begins with the willingness to forsake God's Word.

Grace,