The Splendor of the Seemingly Insignificant

“‘But Lord’, Gideon asked, ‘how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’”

Judges 6:15 

It is remarkable to consider what attributes mankind associates with success and stature: charisma, wealth, prosperity, physical strength, external beauty, vocational placement, and societal connections. But such lifestyle characteristics communicate very little about a person’s inner disposition or temperament. And they say virtually nothing about one’s hopes, dreams, priorities, or the state of the heart. The human struggle to define a person’s worth by cultural norms is a fleshly weakness that God has long sought to overcome. Numerous biblical examples display the Lord’s ability to use the weak (in the eyes of the public) to make known His supernatural power. Each instance is another attempt to draw man’s gaze away from self and fix it on God. And so it is that we find this God-initiated desire to work through the seemingly insignificant in the account of Gideon in Judges 6.

But before we briefly review God’s call to Gideon let us reflect on what had transpired with Israel shortly after their occupation of the Promised Land. God told His covenantal followers to rid the land of the spiritual debauchery and wicked indigenous tribes. But eventually the Hebrew people stopped warring evilness and allowed the Canaanite presence and influence to remain. In the process, the Israelites began to compromise their monogamous spiritual relationship with God and slowly, but surely, allowed sin and false worship to creep into their religious practices. One short generation after Joshua had nobly led the band of farmers into military conquest the Hebrews were ignoring and forgetting God’s lordship.

 

At this point in history, the people of Israel generally did not take much stock in family-centric authentic worship. They relied on making one man (like Moses or Joshua) responsible for setting the spiritual standard for the entire nation. But God seeks for relational faith to be displayed primarily in the home, not in the civic or governmental arenas. Allowing the spiritual influence to rest on the shoulders of one individual is very dangerous and irresponsible. All of God’s followers need to keep themselves accountable to the Lord, and not transfer that right or responsibility to others because they personally lack conviction or integrity.

In order to keep the Hebrew people safe from oppression and military casualty in the Promised Land, God raised up and called out heroes, also known as judges. These people directed the Israelites in battle and beckoned them to repent of their self-centered living and return to the singular focus of knowing, following, and praising God. Gideon was one such hero that the mantle of leadership was placed upon. But it is Gideon’s reaction to the Lord’s call that is fascinating for this short study. The young man questioned the legitimacy of his choosing for God’s service by pointing out that his clan was not a highly favored one, and that his position in his family lineage was lowly. But Gideon’s doubt would be overcome by God’s decree. The Lord had determined to make this seemingly insignificant person significant by using Gideon as a vessel to demonstrate God’s unmatchable might.

There is something remarkable about God using the “unknowns” to reveal His holy self. Through Gideon, God would come to open up His heavenly resources and easily defeat Israel’s enemies. Clearly, God does not require grand stature or success to accomplish His will; He requires surrender. God does not require human power; He requires human participation. The Lord chooses to include us in His ongoing, splendid work. Therefore, may we not doubt God’s ability to use people from all backgrounds and walks to broadcast life-altering truth. May we accept our lot and await God’s movement. May we recognize the splendor of seemingly insignificant and let it pour over us like a refreshing fall rain. To God be the glory forever and ever.

The Unfailing Goodness of God

“Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”
Joshua 21:45

There are few things in this life that provide unending enjoyment. Each day seems to present new opportunities to experience disappointment. Possessions are stolen or broken. Vocations are swiftly terminated or find their natural conclusion in retirement. Accolades and admiration becomes drowned out through the clamor of criticism and chastisement. It is through the incessantly storm-filled seasons of life that we tend to internally ask, “How can I attain peace in the midst of chaos and controversy?” “How do I come to feel settled in an unsettling world?” In short, rest and relief can only be found in God.  It is the Lord’s blessed character that is an anchor for the weary soul, the soul seemingly tossed about in the stormy seas of the earthly experience.

This truth is displayed in the closing verse of Joshua 21, which proudly announces that God honored every single promise to the Israelite people. Of critical importance, the Lord kept the Hebrews safe and rendered His victorious hand over surrounding enemies. God’s providence was crucial for the Israelites to properly revalidate their legacy and become acquainted to the land they had only recently come to reside in. But this verse highlights a greater meaning than just the benefit of supernatural involvement for Hebrew affairs in Canaan. It signifies that the Lord’s temperament is so righteous, so holy, that He is altogether unable to ignore the covenants He has made.

 

This is incredibly uplifting in an age when empty words and shallow pacts are issued with rapid frequency. Pledges do not seem to be binding in today’s times. They can be edited, rephrased, or wholly ignored. But when we consider God-initiated accords we can be certain that what God has stated will come to pass. All this to say, if God’s character is dependable, then so is His Word because His Word is a confirmation of His nature. Let us never forget that God’s decrees and declarations are grand and glorious. His message is touching and true. His ways are spectacular and sure.

As the Israelite surveyed the land of Canaan so long ago they knew the work before them would indeed be difficult. It would be full of trials and travails. But they had the prospect of looking upon the forthcoming labor with a glad heart because the unfailing goodness of God was all around them. And what mankind forgets to realize in the modern era is that the Lord’s unfailing goodness is still readily available for our benefit as well. His benevolent, life-changing Spirit awaits our prayers and pleas for intercession. It simply begins by choosing to submit to God each day. Therefore, let us seek God’s direction and heed His direction. Let us drink from the continually refreshing river of God’s love and find the strength to nobly journey another day.

The Catastrophic Consequences of Complacency

“They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer…”

Joshua 16:10

In the blink of an eye, God’s followers can succumb to spiritual complacency. In a moment, we can give in to a state that is apathetic to the moral decay surrounding us. So often we try to justify this unholy posture by reasoning that the good we have done has outweighed the bad. But when God says, “Be holy for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44), God has clearly set a bar that reveals half-hearted effort on our part will not satisfy Him. Throughout Scripture, God’s will and desire for humanity is made known, but somehow we tend to pick and choose that which we will obey. As a result, we treat God’s Word like it is a spiritual buffet, selecting the entrees best suited to our personal tastes. For instance, the Bible advocates the continual communal worship of God (Hebrews 10:25), which in modern-day evangelical congregations is observed on Sundays, but many people are quick to rationalize their church absenteeism by calling attention to the fact that Sundays are their day to relax or unwind. Furthermore, the Bible encourages God’s followers to invest time in studying His Word each and every day (Psalm 119:97), but many people routinely ignore Scripture, thus evading its life-changing, daily application.

 It is with this reflection, a reflection of how catastrophic spiritual complacency can be, that we review the events surrounding Joshua 16:10. Up until this point in Joshua’s account, God’s providential hand has been gloriously evident, particularly in the defeat of nations inhabiting the land of Canaan. In Joshua 6, Jericho’s walls supernaturally fell and the battle was over before it even began. In Joshua 8, the city of Ai was defeated through a masterful strategy designed by God. Per the book of Joshua, the work of the Israelites was great, but the blessing of God was greater still. The Lord had led the Hebrew people every step of the way and shown Himself faithful through His direct involvement. But when the Israelites amassed several military conquests, they let their guard down and exercised a lethargic spirit. Joshua 16:10 denotes that they did not rid the land of all the Canaanites.

 Why is this significant? I suppose there are multiple reasons why not ridding the land of Canaanites is significant, but the primary explanation I will focus on relates to the spiritual lifestyle that permeated the Canaanite citizens. In short, it was despicable. In Numbers 25:1-2, Scripture attests that Moabite women seduced some of the Israelite men, engaged in fornication, and influenced the Hebrew males to break from their worship of God and sacrifice to foreign gods. If this weren’t vile enough, the people in and around Canaan were notorious for placating their fake idols by burning their children alive in deplorable rituals (2 Kings 16:3). Taken together, a very dark canvas regarding the spiritual condition of the Canaanite people begins to form. A condition that if left to endure would eventually bring about an unrighteous temptation for God’s followers. And it did.  Interestingly enough, the Israelites vowed to completely destroy the Canaanite cities (Numbers 21:2). Unfortunately, this was a vow that they broke, as confirmed in Joshua 16:10. The subsequent result of this broken vow was that the Israelites, in time, would indulge in the very same heinous acts that God had decried multiple times over.

What is the primary take-away from this passage? What are we to learn from it? Well, for starters, doing God’s work and embracing His will should not be a casual, half-hearted effort. It demands total commitment and total dedication. The people of Israel cleared most of the towns in Canaan but seemingly gave up the pursuit for completing the mission in its entirety. This would later prove to be a disastrous choice. Whenever we allow negative elements or pressures to remain as a fixture in our lives we become vulnerable to a weakened resolve and a dishonorable character. Fire burns and, in a sense, if we freely surround ourselves with wicked individuals or lewd, corrupt behavior then we are playing with fire, spiritually speaking. It’s not that we should separate ourselves from the world altogether, but we must carefully ensure that our steps are in alignment with God’s truths and precepts.

 

Therefore, let us call out to God frequently, soak up His Word daily, and worship the Lord with fellow believers continually so that we will properly prevent succombing to the catastrophic state of complacency. The road to spiritual destruction is a short path, and often paved with good intentions. For that reason, we must firecely guard our heart and embolden it with the Word of God and the worship of God, both personally and corporately. May we not be categorized as complacent believers, but committed believers.

An Unorthodox, Unconventional Directive of God

“Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men…’”

Joshua 6:2-3

The book of Joshua represents a major milestone and transition in Scripture. For a generation, the people of Israel had wandered through desert terrain awaiting the divine permission to enter the Promised Land. Because of corrupted hearts, save Caleb and Joshua’s family, the very people rescued from bondage in Egypt were not allowed to physically reside in the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 2:16). It was only after the rebellious, stubborn individuals had passed away that the covenantal recipients of God’s favor were allowed to trek into the Promised Land. Moses, the great prophet and messenger of God, was disallowed admittance into Canaan as well. He was the intermediary between God and the people, and his separation from the Hebrew community was certainly hard for many to absorb. Just before Moses’ death, Joshua was commissioned as his successor. The longtime, former attendant to Moses (Numbers 11:28) had already proven himself a resilient, brave soldier before formally assuming the reigns of leadership (Deuteronomy 3:21-22).

Israel’s journey into Canaan confirms the work before the Hebrew people was a great one. To rid the land of so many fortified, God-hating civilizations was a colossal effort and not for the faint or faithless of heart. But the Scriptural account of Joshua also verifies that God’s providential hand was needed for Israel’s victories, and when the Lord’s supernatural aid was removed, as it was with Achan’s sin in Joshua 7, the people experienced calamity and strife. When viewed through the events of Joshua 6, the consideration of God’s providential hand is fascinating for in this chapter of God’s Word the Lord prepared the Israelites to destroy Jericho, one of the most problematic cities, militarily speaking, of the Jordan Valley. Jericho’s vaulted, sturdy perimeter posed a serious impediment to the Hebrew people, especially in light of the fact that the Israelites were likely devoid of advanced weaponry since they had been reduced to sojourners for an extended period of time.

 

In Joshua 6:2, God told Joshua that Jericho would soon fall right before Israel’s eyes. The valor and combatant nature of Joshua must have been eager to learn the Lord’s strategy for victory. Would Israel perform a frontal assault? Would they somehow lure the citizens of Jericho outside the city and attack them in a massive sword battle? No. God’s subsequent commands to Joshua involved having the Hebrew people walk around Jericho for seven straight days. From a fighting standpoint, this plan made no sense at all. Marching around Jericho would leave Israel vulnerable to ridicule and mockery at best. At worst, the Hebrew people might bear the brunt of aerial attacks from the citizens of Jericho.

Imagine what questions must have been coursing through Joshua’s mind as he received this holy decree. Would his own nation think he was delusional? Would he be forcibly removed from his position? We do not read about any such misleading thoughts on Joshua’s part. In fact, we read nothing at all about his feelings. This inspirational leader confirms life is not best lived through feelings, but faith. Without hesitation or reservation, Joshua immediately set out to make the necessary preparations of God’s directive. He rallied the spiritual leaders first, and then instructed all the Israelites in God’s pronouncement. And thus Israel obeyed God’s unorthodox, unconventional directive.

It is so tempting in moments like this account in Joshua 6 to ask, “Why?” Why parade around Jericho for seven days and wait for some miraculous movement of God?  Perhaps this story reminds us that the encounters we surrender in following God lead to encounters that result in our fervent praise of God. If Israel’s soldiers had charged Jericho with weapons drawn and overtaken the city it would have been easy for the Israelite warriors to assume their heroism was largely responsible for the triumph. Men would have received the adoration and accolade. But to march around the city for seven days and then end the exhibition with a war cry, only to see the walls of Jericho supernaturally collapse meant the adoration and accolade rightly went to God. It was God’s strength and blessing that brought about Israel’s victory. Therefore, may this unorthodox, unconventional directive motivate us to always yearn to give God the glory, rather than ourselves. Let us humbly submit to the Lord’s will, whatever it may yield. To the Israelites, it meant entrusting their lives to God and observing His unusual battle orders at Jericho. What will our unorthodox, unconventional directive be? I don’t know. But let us patiently wait for it, reverently accept it, and wholeheartedly practice it so that God may receive the honor richly due Him.                             

Finishing Strong

“This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death.”

Deuteronomy 33:1

When death’s dawn approaches people tend to exhibit one of two overarching temperaments: kindness or coldness. Those who choose to live through kind hearts are characterized by patience, gladness, generosity, and godliness. Those who choose to live through cold hearts are characterized by impatience, coarseness, stinginess, and a mouth that hurls cruel words like fiery arrows. Scripture does not approve an aloof disposition. It does not sanction an unapproachable spirit. It does not condone unkind speech or an antagonistic attitude. But for some reason, mankind has generally accepted it. We see lives filled with negativity and frustration and say nothing. Or do nothing. Sadly, a burdened heart that remains in a state of despair often leads to a bitter soul.        

But there is hope. There are biblical examples of people who experienced numerous setbacks and disappointments and, yet, were still able to complete earth’s journey with integrity. With hope. With a sweet spirit. Moses is one such person. Therefore, let us consider the way he ended his life, a life that finished strong. Moses revealed his earnest desire to finish life strong in three ways: through his conduct, through his confession, and through his character.  

Conduct

Moses endured Israel’s complaints, backbiting, mutinous behavior, and sin. He spiritually carried them for an exhausting 40 years. Through pain and heartache, he guided them to the entrance of the Promised Land. But he would not be given the privilege of touching the very ground he sacrificed so much to see. Can we ever fully appreciate the agony Moses must have felt when God said “no”? Furthermore, God told the great prophet to make final preparations because his death was near. How would we respond given the same circumstances? I admit my natural response would probably be to be bitter, angry, argumentative, and frustrated. In my mind, I would think, this isn’t fair. In my heart, I would think, this isn’t right.

But Moses responded with obedience, rather than rebellion, procrastination, or questions. He saw to it that he did everything God requested of him. He did it immediately. This is a crucial point. Why? Because Moses could have opted to stall this for awhile. He could have fought against it. But he didn’t. I believe Moses viewed his life within the framework of God’s will, rather than his own. He didn’t dwell on his ambitions, goals, and plans. He took into account God’s desire. He wrote the words of the law until they were complete. This, I believe, was no small endeavor or task. His dedication to seeing this project through underscored his commitment to conducting himself in a God-honoring way.

Mankind finds it easy or natural to become upset when things do not go our way. But when we step back and allow God’s will to prevail we will find the determination to say, “Blessed be Your name God. May Your will be done, not mine.” If that mentality takes hold, selfishness begins to dissipate, as does bitterness, anger, and frustration. 

 
In short, Moses accepted God’s will. He embraced God’s desire. He did what God asked him to do, and more. His conduct, even in uncomfortable circumstances, was exceptional.

Confession

In its purest definition to confess means “to speak.” In that context, we offer up confessions each and every day. And Moses offered the Israelites a most insightful confession in Deuteronomy 31:25. He implored his brethren to abandon disobedience in order to embrace faithfulness. Holiness. I realize, on the surface, this message may sound harsh and/or critical. But Moses’ tone signifies the significance of the situation.

Israel was on the cusp of accepting something they did not earn: admission into the Promised Land. They would encounter cultural and religious temptations. They would meet adversity and conflict. They needed a stern, but loving, reminder of the importance of abiding with God. The result of their decisions, personally and corporately, would affect their lives and the lives of future generations. This was not a time for half-hearted worship. It was time for an honest, soul-searching evaluation of their hearts’ pursuit and desire. Moses pleaded with Israel to restore, better yet establish, a righteous relationship with God. Overall, Israel had given some portion of their lives to God, but not entirely. Not completely. The passage in Deuteronomy 31:25 confirms Moses sought a confessional balance and provided Israel honest, true, loving declarations.

 

Character

Moses displayed character qualities that demanded respect and inspired dedication. Moses' own confession bears this out for he told the Israelites that had he not been guiding them they surely would have resorted to greater levels of deparivity and idolatry. While this does not speak well of Isreal it does speak well of Moses for he, at times, single-handedly prevented God from destroying the Israelites. His righteous prayers and his desire to honor God were a benchmark before Israel. His character was continually on display, and it rarely disappointed. 

There is something to be said about consistency in godliness isn’t there? We live in an age where the faults of ministry leaders are loudly and quickly broadcast to as many people as possible. Their lives are very visible and negative exposure seems to be amplified because of the spotlight they reside in. But the same standard that is required of them is the standard that is required of each of us: holiness, righteousness, godliness, integrity, etc. From that standpoint, how many of us could stand the pressure-filled vacuum of leadership and come out unscathed? How many of us have such a consistent, contented walk with God we can walk the treacherous road of ministry and retain, if not strengthen, our faith?

 
Character is essentially living out your beliefs. It’s not only who you are when nobody is looking; it’s who you are when everybody is looking. Do you love God? It should show. Do you love God’s creation – mankind (even the less desirable people from the world’s vantage point)? It should show. Do you seek to honor God with your thoughts and behavior? It should show. Do you seek to exhibit an encouraging mouth and joy-filled mindset? Again, it should show. Faith in God is crucial to this endeavor. Finishing strong can be done. But we must choose each and every day to live for God rather than ourselves. Therefore, may we, like Moses, live strong and finish strong.