“The monster is only scary while it is in the closet.Once in the light,you can see its many flaws and weaknesses.And often,we end up laughing,at what we shield our eyes from no more.” - Tom Althouse
JOSHUA 7-8
5And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarriesd and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
6Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.7“O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies? 9When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”(7:5-9)
LUKE 2:25-52
46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
JOURNAL
So Joshua and the Israelites suffer their first defeat since crossing the Jordan and everyone falls apart. Tearing their clothes and making extreme statements of doom and gloom. Joshua goes on to declare that it would have been better to never have crossed the Jordan. Hmmm...sounds familiar.
With Jesus we get his first recorded words, and insight into the characteristics that set him apart...what 12 year old is content to be separated from his parents in order to sit around with astute older men and debate the scriptures?
Going back through and reading my entries from 4 YEARS AGO is truly humbling! There was such a pervasive fear that was gripping most people. We were separated, isolated and most were very unsure of what was going to happen and that uncertainty was scary. Yet I really don't remember that emotion when I look back, instead I mostly remember the fun we had, and the time with each other. Yet I think it is important to see how God reminded me of truth in the midst of fear. That truth once again played out and the worst I could imagine never came to pass.
Day 7: Boy this scene with Joshua and the Israelites really hits home. The thing that I have noticed more than anything is a persistent fear that is finding it's way into one of two camps. On one side we have those that fear that the virus is going to devastate our health and as a result devastate our country and world. Then you have those that fear that our "fear" is going to drive us to self-destruct and as a result will devastate our country and world.
While I tend to gravitate to one side of this over the other, I can honestly say that I experience fear on both extremes. Yet what I find is that both sides have one thing in common...fear! That emotion, while real is based on projections and assumptions. When that happens we tend to forget history, we tend to forget everything and instead vacillate with a toxic mix of fear and anger. Fear of the future and anger for the possibility and for those we feel will cause it or contribute to it.
To really step back and look at scripture, it's easy to see how foolish it was for Joshua to fear. One defeat and all is lost, never mind all that had been accomplished up to this point. The miracles within Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the miraculous care and nurture of God while in the desert. Yet all they can see at this point is fear.
Wow...how little is my faith. How great is my own fear. I tend to forget all that God has brought us through as humans and even further as a country...the fall of Rome, the Dark Ages, Pandemics...(some of which had a real shot in wiping humanity off the face of the earth), the Great Depression, World Wars ,the threat of Nuclear holocaust...and not to forget, the execution of Jesus on a cross. History reminds us that challenge and scary times are a constant and yet God never faltered in his care to see us through. This will be no different, regardless of our mistakes, fear, lack of trust. God is greater than all of that and will see us through.
With Jesus we get his first recorded words, and insight into the characteristics that set him apart...what 12 year old is content to be separated from his parents in order to sit around with astute older men and debate the scriptures?
No comments:
Post a Comment