The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Wednesday
March 26, 2008
On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the city
as they had done before. But this time they went around the city seven times.
The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns,
Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The
city and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the
Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for
she protected our spies. Do not take any of the things set apart for
destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring
trouble on all Israel. Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is
sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury."
When the people
heard the sound of the horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the
walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the city
from every side and captured it. They completely destroyed everything in it—men
and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, donkeys—everything.
Then Joshua
said to the two spies, "Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute's house and
bring her out, along with all her family."
Joshua 6:15-22
Well, Hallelujah! Obedience is bliss! Can you imagine the shouting that went on that day? Indeed, God fulfilled His promise. Now, would they fulfill theirs?
God gave specific orders, every living being, whether human or animal, was to be destroyed. Then, everything that had value was to be brought to the Lord. Stop for a moment and think of that. What kind of God destroys human life? Allow yourself to go there for a moment. Did God change from the Old Testament destroyer of people into the New Testament God of grace? No, He is still the same. No, He no longer destroys whole nations, but He will often lead us to battle.
God knew the hearts of the people of Jericho. He knew there was one person there whose fear turned to reverence. This person was a harlot and her faith saved both her family and herself. She is even listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). He had to protect the faith of His followers and in order to do that the people of Jericho and even their animals had to be destroyed. Yet, Rahab was saved by faith.
We too are saved by faith. God Himself died for our salvation. He is willing to do whatever it takes to bring us to Himself. No, He has not changed. His strategies may be a little different today, but He is still God.
What does God require of us? That we die to ourselves; that we willingly look to Him for everything ¾ everything. He is the Provider. I don't know about you, but God has often given me specific instructions that seemed absurd. Unlike Joshua, I allowed the skeptic opinions of others to become an obstacle to obedience and I paid dearly. When will we learn that Obedience is truly bliss?
Father, I don't understand how You can tolerate me. You are Holy and Perfect. I am so far from understanding that. I confess that I have questioned You, not just with my mind, but with my heart as well. I know You forgive me the minute I call out to You, but I want to walk in perfect obedience to You and Your will. Help me walk in the path where obedience is bliss!
