I have always enjoyed a good ?shoot ?em up bang bang? movie as my dad and I call them. But one of the reasons I like them is because I don?t feel they are real. Now, the movies based off of real wars and battles from history are a little harder for me to watch. I typically cry through most of them. I don?t like war. I don?t like fighting or hatred or injustice or genocide or ugly. I just don?t like it. I don?t have cable television because I don?t like how much ugly is seen on TV. As I read through the scriptures for today, I cringed. This is ugly. But at the same time, it is helpful to recognize how important it is to refocus our lives in God?s word, in a life of prayer, and to be identified with God. These passages of scripture in Joshua remind us that making these three thing a priority are essential for a life of faith with God. I invite you to pray with me over the sermon titled ?The Battle Begins.?
A couple of weeks ago, we talked about details and how sometimes we need to get out of the details and look at the bigger picture? Well, today is another one of those days. God?s people are on the outskirts of the Promised Land?again! Joshua is the new leader and God is taking them into the Promised Land. And remember, this is not just the land of milk and honey?it is the land of milk, honey, and giants! It is the inhabited land of Canaan. Being there again, Joshua decides to send out two spies to see what had happened in the land over the past 40 years. Once they arrived into the land, the spies were protected by Rahab and her family. For her protection, the spies promised to protect her when the battle began and destruction happened. When the spies got back to Joshua, they reported everything they saw and said ?The Lord has surely give the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us (Joshua 2:24).? So Joshua knew it was time to go. And God gave him a plan. But two things had to happen first. Everyone had to cross the river and then all the men had to be circumcised. Sounds like the perfect way to go into battle, right? And then, the way the Israelites were going to win this city was by God?s plan. God?s battle plan for them at the walled city of Jericho was to have them march around the city, blow their trumpets, and shout.
Now, as a leader, I have had to occasionally challenge folks to do something difficult?But I am not sure I could go to you and give you this plan: ?Folks, we?re going to cross that raging river on the edge of town without any boats or bridges. Once we get to the other side, I want all the guys to meet me in this big tent. Bring your knives and band-aids. When we?re finished there, we?re all going to form a big column and parade around that huge walled fortress where soldiers will be waiting to ambush us. No need to bring any weapons, except for 7 of you. Bring your trumpets. When I say the word, make some noise?and I think that?ll do it. Are you with me??
This was one of those plans where you just shake your head! The plan doesn?t make any sense?but yet the people followed it. And we saw how God was working through the people for others to know God?s power. This story is always a good reminder to me that ?God?s ways are not always my ways.? God knew what he was doing. And God affirmed Joshua in following his words and commands by reminding him to ?be strong and courageous? and to ?not be afraid.? God desired to create a community that was not characterized by fear, a community who embodied ?fearless living,? and was a community of people who trusted and obeyed God, even during fearsome moments. The victory in Jericho was found in obedience to God, in remember that God was there, and in living in accordance to God?s guidelines. It is almost as if God is saying, ?If you remember me, promise to talk with me, show people whose you are, and live by my guidelines, I will defeat anyone who stands in your way.? And it is during the moments of the book of Joshua where it is almost as if the people of Israel were starting to understand they are God?s chosen nation and in realizing that, they were obeying God?s orders.
In the rest of the book of Joshua, there are more battles. More death and destruction. The Israelites are the ones who bring about the destruction, but it is God who is guiding them to do so. God is on a warpath to destroy all things that are wicked, detestable, against the commandments, and evil. In many ways, God had given the people of all these other lands over 500 years to change their ways, and nothing happened and no one did. So God established the Promised Land in the land of Canaan and made sure that everyone in the surrounding countries knew whom the one true God was. It was in this place where God would be with his people in the Promised Land.
God had some great hopes for the people to truly be unique. And still does. God wants Christians to live distinctive lives that would stand out differently than the lives characterized by selfishness, greed, materialism, etc. God doesn?t want us to live by what the world says we need. But wants us to face all the different giants that are in front of us. God is calling us to face the giants of a constantly changing economy, health issues and concerns, personal setbacks in ways that reflect our trust in God, who will always provide for his children. God is calling us to choose life with him, to value those whom society rejects, to counter hatred and prejudice with love for all God?s people.
Doing so, involves being brave and courageous, not guided by fear. In the Sunday school lesson on Joshua, we spent time talking about how important it is to be people of the Word so we know God?s ways and can follow God?s guidelines for getting along with God and one another.? Joshua grounded everyone in the Word and Law of God. He knew that when the Israelites were grounded in God?s word, God would give thema little push that he wants us to do something difficult for him?and this is still true for us today. That push could be walking across the street to introduce ourselves to our neighbors, serving a meal at the homeless shelter, or volunteering at the local elementary school. The reasons we do these things are out of our faith and to show others the love of God. Next we need to be people grounded in prayer. Joshua talked to God about almost everything that was happening. And when he didn?t, it was made known that God wasn?t involved in the plans. If we are in a place where a battle has begun or some giant is in the way, we need to be involved with listening to God and talking with God about what is going on. God will let us know whether or not we are to move forward or hold our position. And finally, we are a people who need to be identified with God. The Israelites were identified through the act of circumcism, we are identified by professing our faith, being baptized, and living it out. Working through these three areas is an amazing way to face any battle or giant that could come our way.
Just as Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, God allows us to fight our own battles, in our own unique circumstances, knowing that God is in charge. God?s promise to us stands sure: ?I will be with you.? Let us share that message with those who are around us.