MARCH 23, 2023

 

“A great man is always willing to be little.” 

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

JOSHUA 9-10

40So Joshua conquered the whole region—the hill country, the Negev, the foothills,f and the slopes, together with all their kings—leaving no survivors. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41Joshua conquered the area from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and the whole region of Goshen as far as Gibeon.

42And because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel, Joshua captured all these kings and their land in one campaign. 43Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

LUKE 3

9The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

11John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

JOURNAL

Joshua completely destroys the inhabitants of multiple cities. Killing all men, women and children. His tactics are ruthless! John's words command the people to give freely, do a job fairly, and be good to other people. How can these actions, both of which are in obedience to God be in the same book? How can they be commands of the same God? People have made comments at times that the God of the Old Testament was different.    But God is God...he didn't take on a new identity.  So how are they reconciled? I struggle with it...it's always been a struggle for me...and that's ok! I still trust God, I still believe he is the God of Love and I still believe that his ways are good.

I do think though that it probably has to do with perception and how the methods of God's parenthood are also different based on the needs and relationship in those specific moments. Just as a parent does not parent a child the same way when they are 2 as they do when they 12 or as they do when they are adults. The parents haven't really changed but the relationship has and the child needs different things based on the relationship and the age of the child. 

All of that to say that I think that's why God gives us the relational comparison of a father to his children. Even though it's much deeper and more complex. Yet the willingness to be human, to get into our mess and understand it from our perspective is both amazing and incredibly humbling. 

One other thing that I notice about Jesus and it really is an example for any and all of us. Jesus really didn't talk about himself unless he had to. Jesus' focus was constantly on others and their needs. When he did talk about himself...he didn't lie and he didn't make excuses. What an amazing example to live by...to sum it all up: Don't talk about yourself, but if you have to...tell the truth and don't make excuses. Spend the precious moments of life doing your best, loving others and bringing a glimpse of heaven to earth. 

6Who, being in very nature^a God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature^b of a servant,being made in human likeness.8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!  

Philippians 2:6-8