Today's passages provide more background to the upcoming movement of the Israelites into the Promised Land. Despite their 40 years of wanderings and the passing of the generation who rebelled against the Lord's direction, we should not surprised to see the Israelites' further rebellion against the Lord's instructions.
1. Passing the baton to Joshua. In the first part of today's reading, we see the passing of the leadership baton to Joshua. Please recall that, along with Caleb, Joshua was the sole envoy of the 12 from the 12 tribes to highlight the goodness of the Promised Land and to believe God that He could give the land to the Israelites, despite the presence and might of the other peoples. His courage would provide an important ballast for the fledgling nation.
Still, we can see in both Moses's prayer and God's response that leadership is ultimately about whom God chooses, not in what appears great in the world's eyes. God chose Joshua for the presence of His Spirit; Joshua had willingly invited God's presence into his life and stood for what the Lord desired. In addition, Joshua would not act singlehandedly in leading the Israelites. Instead, Joshua would include Eleazar the chief priest in seeking the Lord's guidance on matters of judgment.
It may be a helpful exercise to consider what you find worthy of respect in others. What does that say about your priorities?
2. Preparations for conquest and settlement. From an earthly perspective, the total destruction that the Lord orders appears challenging. Why would a loving God direct the Israelites to totally destroy the residents of the Promised Land? Doesn't God seem vindictive?
We must view these directions as a reflection of God's holiness and desire to protect His people from the intrusion of idolatry and distraction. We read in Numbers 33: "When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.... But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them."
The Lord desired the Israelites to set themselves apart for His work and kingdom. By allowing the neighboring peoples to have influence over the worship and attitudes of the people, the Israelites would fall into syncretism (a blending of different belief systems) and ultimately walk away from and dishonor their true King. The conquest of the land brings forth a question that will reverberate through the Scriptures: Who is ultimately the true King? Who is the Lord? Whose standards are true and trustworthy? As we may see from the two Greatest Commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) or the first Commandment (Exodus 20), God's greatest concern lies in the quality and focus of our love for Him. He is righteously jealous for our affections. Choosing other gods or earthly stuff is tantamount to saying, "God, You're not worth it. These other things are better."
QUESTIONS
1. How can you become more of the man or woman that God would use?
2. Has God revealed any areas of your life that should come further under His Lordship?
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