Tuesday, January 12: Joshua 8 The irony of obedience.

 

Yesterday’s reading was a disaster caused by disobedience. One soldier saw something he ‘had to have’ and against orders stole it. In this morning’s reading I observed irony. If Achan had waited one more battle, only a few days, he would have had what he coveted without penalty. In fact, it would have come as a gift from God’s hand. Verse 27, But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the LORD had instructed Joshua.

After delivering Achan’s just punishment and cleansing Israel of the stain of sin, Joshua takes the army to defeat and capture Ai. After that victory the soldiers were given the spoils of war, anything of value in the city was theirs for the carrying. Had Achan controlled his covetousness for one more battle…

Such is the irony of obedience. If we will obey and wait, God will provide that which we need. Sometimes what we need and what we want differ, don’t confuse the two.

Lord, the lesson of obedience can be difficult to learn. In my world of instant gratification, I am trained to want things now. Waiting can be difficult and often waiting is one aspect of obedience. Help me learn to wait so that I may be more obedient to You and Your voice in the future than I am today. Serving and loving Jesus, I am Your child and I pray in Jesus’ name…

 

 

SIDE BAR: An extra thought from 8:30-35…

I was amazed by the ending of chapter 8. After their second victory, just when Israel is getting on a military roll… Joshua orders a pause. They assemble on Mt Ebul,  build an altar according the instructions given by Moses, offer sacrifices in the presence of the Ark (God’s fingerprint, if you will, among His people), Joshua copies the law in front of all the people, and then finally he reads the Law to all present.

This is an amazing pause of remembrance, and recognition that it was the Lord leading them NOT the strength of their army or the skill of their fighting.

We would all be wiser if we paused occasionally, particularly after a good deal is struck or something we are working on goes according to plan, to remember that God was there behind and before us causing these good things to happen…