Something Proved, Something New

Joshua 20

One of my temptations when I look at a text is to use the text to prove something that I already believe. Then I figure that I can take that text and base a lesson or sermon on it to teach someone I know what they should really be doing. Today's text is a great example of this.

In Joshua 20, You are telling the people to set aside cities of refuge so that those who kill someone accidentally will not be killed in return by the avenger of blood. It's a really fascinating idea, because what it means is that there are different levels of punishment for the same action depending on the motivation of the one who commits the action. It means that, apparently, there are not hard and fast lines saying this sin equals this punishment every time, no exceptions. It shows that it is fair to look at a situation and judge on a case to case basis what it proper as far a punishment.

This is a message that I believe anyways. I believe that hard and fast rules are generally unfair, and that case by case processing allows for better relational connection. I believe that it is not fair to treat everyone equally. I also believe in forgiveness, which these cities of refuge sort of offer.

So, I already believe what I see in the text here. And it is hard for me to see anything else in it. I can't find my way past my first thought, and my first thought is something I don't need much backing up and proof to continue to believe. Instead, I would rather find something new, something fresh, something creative.

But we don't always get something new from faith. Except for Your mercies, which are new every morning. In my stillness this morning, thank You for a text of fairness. Help me to be involved in representing this idea of fairness to my classes. But more important, help me to be aware of that whihc is consistently new: Your love, Your mercy, Your grace.

When the LORD Listened to a Man

Joshua 10

"There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man."

In Joshua 10, Joshua prays to the LORD that the sun will stand still in its place so that the Israelites can pursue their enemies before it becomes dark. And the LORD listens. The sun miraculously stands still, and the enemies are defeated.

But I'm interested in this phrase. There's never been a day like it... Well, I see that as being something true. There has probably never been another day that the sun stands still for a long period of time. Another one is not recorded in the Bible, and I don't really see it happening without Your command. So I get the first part of the statement here in Joshua.

But the second part stumps me. It is apparently not the sun standing still that has never happened before, it is that You listened to a man. Except for, in the rest of the Bible, that happens a lot. Specifically, You listened to Elijah and bring down fire on his bull when he faces off with the prophets of Baal. You listened to Daniel when he prayed on behalf of the exiled Israelites. You listened to Abraham when he bargains for the lives of those in Sodom and Gomorrah. You listened to Moses. You listened to Samuel. And so on and so on.

And even more, it is integral to the modern Christian faith (based on Biblical traditions) that You listen to us and our prayers. It is one of the things that makes Christian faith tradition unique and amazing, that the Creator of the universe will listen to our prayers. It is that relational aspect of your love that I believe (and have taught) is paramount to any other concern.

So, what's going on here in this passage? Why is this a special case? These are questions I would like to have answered. It throws a sprinkle of doubt on one of the reasons that I love You. It flies in the face of what I've experienced.

A couple explanations come to mind. First off, that listen isn't really the best choice of word here. Maybe obey would have been a better choice. Man made a specific, really miraculous, request and You obeyed. However, that is what Elijah did too. He asked for fire to come from the sky. And You sent fire. That takes out obey. But it could still be a weird translation.

More likely, I'm missing something. Some context clue here that changes the interpretation. Something others would have easily understood. Am I missing something? This is where a study would be really useful.

Another option for this? Maybe the author didn't know their history. That's really possible. Maybe the author was only talking about in their story and in their lifetime God never listened like this again. I don't mind this, but then it does call in to question, well, actually this suggestion would erase the idea of inerrancy. I'm okay with that, this isn't a central issue. But I know and understand how people get nervous about that.

So in short, confusing little phrase in the midst of a violent passage. But that's another matter all together. Thanks for the little Bible study today, the raising of questions. I'll see if I can find answers later today.

Conflict

Joshua 8

Joshua is a really weird book to read slowly Lord. I mean, I decided not to change my course through the Bible because I was afraid that if I did I would never actually end up accomplishing my goal to read through the whole Bible again. I figured that if I added a "slow" reading to my "normal" reading, I would end up just quitting. So I just went on the slow approach right where I was on my reading schedule. And that all seemed like a really good idea until Joshua got violent.

I don't like conflict. Maybe I've said this before, and I'm sure You are aware, but I tend to shy away from anything that will put me at odds with another person. Sure, there are certain truths that I believe to be absolute (Your existence, Your love, the beauty of my wife :-) but I will listen to people who oppose even my absolutist of beliefs seriously, and usually not make my points about my beliefs as eloquently. You could spin it to say that I just care about all my relationships more than about proving that I'm right, but that is only true some of the time. Most of the time, I just don't want to be disliked.

Which makes it difficult to confront wrongdoing. In Joshua 7 that I read yesterday, Achan takes stuff he's not supposed to and burries it in his tent. He's not using it, flaunting it, declaring himself rich... it's just buried. So, the whole nation of Israel suffers because he did not obey the Lord. When they search to discern who is at fault, and they come to him, he confesses. He tells them where the stuff is hidden and why he took it and seems apologetic. Then they stone him.

What? I mean, I knew this story, but reading it slowly, my emotions start to follow it a bit more, and I felt sorry for Achan. I have no sense of someone getting what they deserved and liking it. I don't like to see human pain and disappointment. So as a leader, I particularly don't like to cause the pain and disappointment by upholding punishments. I like to believe that you won't do it again, that you are sorry, that you didn't know what you were supposed to do.

In the classroom, I warn multiple times before I punish. It's so stupid. At home, I can punish right away. As a father, I have yet to be afraid of conflict. Why am I so afraid with everyone else?

Well, this has been more productive than I thought. When I sat down to read, I was afraid that my pattern of not really engaging You (set over the weekend, stupid weekends!) was going to continue. Instead, You've given me a new way to look at the war and violence of Joshua. What will it say to me regarding conflict? How are You working in me in regards to conflict?

I pray that I stay attentive to these things. In the name of Christ, I come to You Lord. Amen.

When Nothing Bites...

Joshua 5

Moving right along. Lord, this is the first time this has happened. I tried to read Joshua 5 slowly, and umm, nothing. Well, there is some obvious stuff. But I'm not even sure that I want to explore that any deeper. There is a whole discussion there about circumsion, the the other nations trembling before the Israelites because of Your help, and an angel that meets with Joshua, but tells him he is not for one side or for the other. That has all sorts of interesting implications. But the truth is, I just don't feel like pursuing any of them right now. Instead, let me move to prayer.

Speak to me, speak through me. Let me notice Your actions in my day. Give me the strength to make it through my day! Amen.