Image via WikipediaSometimes I have trouble reading the Old Testament and placing into modern day context, especially with the massive amounts of violence and killing (can you tell it's contrary to my nature, with the title of the blog and all?). But the Lord has me reading Joshua now, and I think I'm beginning to see it like He does.A little bit of context: I heard a heart wrenching story last night that I've heard too many times before; about a teacher with a desire to teach in an urban neighborhood, but also with an overwhelming realization that teaching can't occur in the school that she's in because the majority of students and the parents still need raising. She spends far more time disciplining, correcting, encouraging, and rebuking self destructive paradigms than teaching content. Like a broken record, the story recited tales of generational curses showing up in children, mothers cursing out their elementary school age children like their peer-- or at worse, their enemy.....bright young students given to quick defeat because of real hunger and/or drug addicted parents....minds that could and would learn if the classroom were more like class than detention.
What's worse is the children walk past the countless high school drop outs on their way to and from school who are standing literally in the same place, as if they were an omen of the future waiting for the children of the neighborhood; a daily reminder of whence they came and where they are statistically doomed.
Even though I've heard this tragic broken record before, I'm hardly desensitized to it. So in my flesh I began to get depressed, overwhelmed and disbondant about the problem, about the neighborhood, about the destiny of the children.
Joshua Revisited
By the 10th chapter of Joshua, God has shown Himself strong on Joshua's behalf countless times. In parting the Jordan, in giving victory in the battle of Jericho primarily by shouting, and he has struck fear for the Israelites in the hearts of all that occupy the land that God has promised.
The fear was justified because Joshua was commanding armies to destroy entire people groups to make way for the new Israelite settlement. God was giving them consistent victory over all those that would challenge the people of God. Even when the odds were stacked against Joshua and his people the Lord would encourage Joshua in his assured victory over his enemies.
"Do not fear them", He said. "For I have handed them over to you; not one of them shall stand before you" (Joshua 10:8).
Was their fear in Joshua's heart even though God had performed so many miracles in his presence and given him victory so many times before? Clearly! Were their casualties in these battles among the people Joshua led in battle? Unfortunately. But God, being God can not lie, and He is faithful to perform what He promised. Joshua and his people would have victory over their enemies!
In the end, God did give victory, despite the Israelites disobedience in the past. It was not dependent upon the strength of the warriors, but rather on the plan of God. In this particular battle, more enemies were killed from huge stones from heaven, than died by the Israelite sword. They couldn't take credit for their victory--even if they tried.
What does this have to do with the broken record of poverty stricken, hopeless neighborhoods and failing schools? Everything! Hoplessness, depression, apathy, surrendering our kids and people God loves to a category of lost and unreachable are our enemies-- and they will be defeated. However, we can not rely on ourselves alone for the victory, but we must trust in the power and direction of the Father.
If we keep reading, we see that Joshua's conquests were many, but his battles long an numerous. All this together was part of getting the victory. It's so easy to become discouraged when all we see is the battles we need to fight, rather than focus our eyes on the One who gives us the victory. But we are assured that we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we will reap if we faint not (Gal 6:9).
May we call on the Lord with all boldness as Joshua did to do the impossible, like making the sun and the moon stand still (Joshua 10:12-13). As we trust not in our own power but in the power of God alone (2 Corinthians 3:12), we dare to have hope in the face of hopelessness. We must be faithful to fight and to be obedient, but the victory is not ours to secure.
For the enemies of hopelessness, depression and apathy that plague our neighborhoods and hearts, I am not so squemish as to be a voluntary warrior in their violent demise.
