Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Redwoods National Park, CA

Godā€™s faithfulness continues
Joshua 1: Moses my servant is deadā€¦In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage!
Some people cast long shadows: David, King of Israel; Abraham, Father of Faith; Moses, Law Giver. The only leader the people of Israel have ever known is now dead. Getting used to life without the steady guidance of Moses is going to take some getting used to and thatā€™s especially true for their new national leader. Joshuaā€™s already a proven leader but that leadership has always been under the authority of Moses. As Joshua staggers under the weight of his new responsibility the Lord speaks to him, probably in a way and at a level that Joshua has never before experienced. The great Promise Maker makes a wonderful commitment to him. Moses is gone but God is not. The same God who spoke to Moses now will speak to Joshua. That same Presence will remain. God’s faithfulness continues. Today, I thank God for the ā€œMoses figuresā€ in my life. These people have provided me with leadership, advice, and strength. Still, humanity is limited. Things, and people, change. Sometimes, in fact, with the passing of time our roles reverse. As it was for Moses and then Joshua I place the weight of my hope on the firm Rock of my Salvation. He won’t give up on me and he wonā€™t forsake me.
Take Away: Thank God for people who influence our lives for good, but even more, thank God for his steady faithfulness through the years.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Redwoods National Park, CA

A practical conversion
Joshua 2: They left and arrived at the house of a harlot named Rahab and stayed there.
As the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan two spies are sent to learn about their first target, Jericho. They slip into the walled city and take up residence in what was likely a common place of lodging. The commentators tell me that Rahabā€™s house was likely a tavern and inn. While some squirm around Rahabā€™s being called a ā€œharlotā€ itā€™s likely that the scriptures are simply telling it as it is. Weā€™re talking about a Canaanite women living in a Canaanite town here. When she acts to protect the spies it isnā€™t because sheā€™s gotten saved in a revival meeting! Sheā€™s acting out of self-preservation. Still, her actions carry real weight. In spite of her questionable past and her lack of knowledge about the God of the Israelites sheā€™s concluded that this God of theirs is powerful and will deliver Canaan to his people. She may not know the Ten Commandments or the Shema or the story of Abraham and Isaac, but sheā€™s heard enough about this God that sheā€™d rather be on his side than on the side of the people and gods of Canaan. In what might be considered a ā€œpractical conversionā€ she picks that God over all others. Hopefully, in the years to come her theology will mature and her relationship with God and his people will deepen. However, for all of us, our faith journey has to start somewhere. Deciding one would rather be on Godā€™s side in the battle isnā€™t a bad place to start.
Take Away: All spiritual life begins with a simple decision concerning oneā€™s relationship to the Lord.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Redwoods National Park, CA

Trust
Joshua 3: Finally the whole nation was across the Jordan, and not one wet foot.
Here is an encouraging verse of Scripture. Their forbearers left Egypt by passing through the Red Sea. They were fleeing slavery and the Egyptian army that was bent on their destruction. Crossing the Red Sea was a “do or die” event for them. Then, their parents had been on the banks of the Jordan just a generation earlier. Their decision was not based on what was behind them, but on what was before them. They rebelled against God and refused to cross the river. You might want to say that in their eyes it was a “don’t or die” situation. Now, forty years later itā€™s their children and grandchildrenā€™s moment of decision. What a glorious sight: hundreds of thousands of Abrahamā€™s descendants moving forward in faith. The Lord has promised them possession of the land on the other side of the river and they’ve chosen to believe that God keeps his promises. This crossing of the Jordan is a declaration of war on all those who occupy that land. While their grandparents and parents retreated to avoid battle these people are marching, not away from, but in to battle. Why? They trust God. Thatā€™s the whole difference. People who doubt God shrink back and go it alone. People who trust the Lord move forward even if it means facing some giants along the way. As I read this account the word that comes to mind is ā€œtrust.ā€
Take Away: Trust advances, doubt retreats.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Redwoods National Park, CA

Make a pile of stones
Joshua 4: In the days to come, when your children ask their fathers, “What are these stones doing here?” tell your children this: “Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry ground.”
Out in the middle of the Jordan River, way down at the bottom, there are stones. Thatā€™s what the people of Israel discover as God opens the way through the river. As the thousands cross over, twelve men are given the assignment of each taking one of those stones and piling them on the bank of the river as a memorial of this momentous event. Then, in future generations, when children ask about the pile of stones, the story will be told. It is the story of God’s deliverance; of how God makes a way when there is no way. Itā€™s a story of God’s grace, patience, and mercy. Itā€™s the story of his unfailing love. Here’s a tip right from God’s Word: build some memorials in your life. Take the kids to the old church, point to the place at the altar and tell them what happened there. Read to them the scripture that got your attention and tell them why. Show them your pile of stones from the Jordan riverbed and in so doing pass your story along to the next generation. Someday, your great-grandchildren, who never met you, will hear their grandpa talk about how his dad came to Christ. Thus, God’s grace will minister through your life from beyond your years on earth.
Take Away: Tell your story to those who are the most precious to you.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Oregon 101 – along the southern coast

Give us this day our daily bread.
Joshua 5: As soon as they started eating food grown in the land, there was no more manna for the People of Israel.
All their lives they’ve eaten manna that appears every morning. Itā€™s God’s provision for them, meeting their needs in places and under circumstances in which that need could be met in no other way. They eat other things too but itā€™s manna thatā€™s the staple in their diet. Now they have a toe hold on the land God promised to them. Thereā€™s much to be done: wars to be fought, land to be claimed, but finally they are here. Apparently, theyā€™ve camped at Gilgal long enough to plant and harvest their first crop of grain. What a great Passover, remembering not only deliverance from Egypt but also now beginning to receive the land God promised them. With the harvest of this first Canaan crop the manna stops. The end of the manna isn’t an indication that Godā€™s no longer going to provide for them. Itā€™s simply a change in how heā€™s going to do it. Now the Lordā€™s providing for them in a new (only to them) way. Sometimes God does things in miraculous ways but most of the time he uses common tools for that purpose. Either way, itā€™s God whoā€™s supplying the need. This concept works not only with manna and crops, but also with my health, job, and the many other concerns of life. I thank God for “the manna” but also for the ordinary, everyday provision for life.
Take Away: The Lord does, indeed, ā€œgive us this day our daily bread.ā€

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Oregon 101 – along the southern coast

Are you with us or against us?
Joshua 5: “Whose side are you on — ours or our enemies’?” He said, “Neither, I’m commander of God’s army. I’ve just arrived.”
I confess that I love these mysterious passages of the Bible. As Joshua prepares for his first Canaan conquest battle he encounters a stranger whoā€™s holding a drawn sword. Joshua asks his allegiance, and the answer is that this stranger is on neither side. Heā€™s commander of God’s army and has only just arrived on the scene. Whatā€™s going on here? God has an army? He sends his commander to scout out the battlefield? There are more questions than answers here. Apparently, the commander of God’s army has come to give Joshua the heavenly battle plan. As I continue reading, the “March around the City” strategy is given to Joshua. In light of the abundance of unknown things in this little passage, I don’t want to go too far out in finding devotional material, but a few things come to mind. First, Godā€™s ready to go to war on my behalf, even when I’m unaware of his presence. Second, God doesn’t claim allegiance to me; I claim allegiance to him. Third, God has a plan that may be very different than my own. Fourth, his plan is always the best one.
Take Away: Itā€™s good to know God has an army, that heā€™s on my side, and that he has a sure fire, God-guaranteed plan.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Oregon 101 – along the southern coast

This is no way to win a battle, still….
Joshua 6: Shout! — God has given you the city!
“Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came a-tumblin’ down.” They marched around the city each day for six days. On the seventh they marched around seven times and then with the blast of the trumpets and a shout of victory the walls fell and they charged in to win their first battle in the conquest of Canaan. Who on earth came up with such a battle plan? Well, it didn’t originate on earth at all. This is Godā€™s plan. Actually, speaking from an earthly point of view, itā€™s not much of a plan at all. Yet itā€™s God’s way and that makes it the best way. Have you ever noticed that that the Lord likes doing things in unique ways? He uses shepherd boys to defeat giants, feeds people with bread that falls from heaven, and sets up a kingdom by going to a cross. His ways don’t always make sense to me but Iā€™d better pay close attention to his direction. All my plans and expectations must yield before an Almighty God who enjoys doing things his own way. This is a source of frustration and delight to me. Iā€™m frustrated when the Lord doesnā€™t act in the way I assume heā€™s going to act. Iā€™m sure the phone is going to ring and the person I expect to call is going to offer me that job Iā€™ve been praying about. The phone never rings, but then someone suggests a different route. When Godā€™s in it, and if Iā€™m not so focused on things happening my way, my lifeā€™s about to take a journey in a whole new, wonderful direction. ā€œBut Lord, those are real walls around that city; let me suggest the best way to get past them.ā€ ā€œThatā€™s okay, my son, youā€™re going to love what Iā€™ve got planned…listen to this….ā€
Take Away: The Lord loves using unexpected methods yielding spectacular results.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Oregon 101 – along the southern coast

Achan lied and men died.
Joshua 7: Israel has sinned: they’ve broken the covenant I commanded them.
Jerichoā€™s defeated and destroyed. Now their attentionā€™s on a much smaller, less fortified place, Ai. An armed force of 3000 is sent to do battle at Ai, more than enough to win an easy victory. However, it doesn’t work that way. The people of Ai rise up and rout the larger Israelite force. How could that happen? They not only have superior numbers, but God is on their side. Right? Wrong! They go to Ai without God and are defeated there. Dismayed by what’s happened on his watch Joshua goes to the Lord. Heā€™s told that thereā€™s sin in the camp. As long as thereā€™s sin thereā€™ll be no help from God. You see, sin is always serious in the eyes of the Lord. Beyond that, my sin impacts others in unexpected ways. Achan thinks that God won’t notice and that his intentional disobedience of the Lordā€™s command will have no consequences. Instead, because of his sin, God withdraws his blessing and over 30 men die. In our western culture, we like to think itā€™s every man for himself. Had an American written this story, Achan, and maybe family, would have died for his sin in tragic poetic justice. Everyone else would have gone on with “business as usual.” Here we see a different picture. “Achan lied and men died.” Is it possible that some churches struggle because thereā€™s hidden sin in the camp? And why stop at the church? What does this story say to me as an American? A country where babies by the millions are aborted, where immorality is the accepted mode of behavior? Am I really free to stand back from that and be dismayed, expecting the judgment of God to only fall on “them?”
Take Away: Our lives are interconnected, what I do impacts others, maybe many others.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – near Eureka, CA

It makes sense
Joshua 8: There wasnā€™t a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua didnā€™t read to the entire congregation.
Thereā€™s both good news and bad news. The good news is that the Israelites have just won their second major victory. The bad news is that because of Achanā€™s sin, that victory was preceded by their first defeat. In spite of the clear statement of the Law Achanā€™s greed led to the deaths of several. Now, Achan, and those close to him, have paid for his sin with his own lives and the humiliation dealt the army of Israel has been erased by the total destruction of Ai. Joshua wisely calls for a time out. The people gather at the twin Mounts of Ebal and Gerisim and Joshua has half the people turn their backs on one of the mountains and the other half turn their backs on its twin. Then Joshua gives them a refresher course on Godā€™s Law. The blessing of the Law is represented by Gerisim and the curse of the Law is represented by Ebal. Clearly, Joshua wants the people to remember that what they’re doing in Canaan isnā€™t all about combat and conquest. If they donā€™t remain firmly connected to the Lord God their future is bleak. Their only hope is to remain on the ā€œblessingā€ side of things. This isnā€™t magic. In fact, itā€™s quite practical. Life works better for those who live in a consistent relationship with God than it does for those who reject him and live by some other standard. I realize that thereā€™s more in play here, but I canā€™t help but note that the bottom line is based on plain good sense.
Take Away: Thereā€™s a way of life that is blessed by the Lord.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Lake Minden Thousand Trails – Nicolaus, CA

Oops
Joshua 9: The men of Israel looked them over and accepted the evidence. But they didnā€™t ask God about it.
Word of the impressive victories of the Israelite army has spread far and wide. Waves of fear sweep across Canaan when the powerful armies of the kings west of the Jordan fall. Now, with Jericho and Ai both destroyed the region is in the grip of dismay. Some are gearing up for war but one group desperately tries a different approach. The people of Gibeon send emissaries to the Israelites. Theyā€™re made up to look as though theyā€™ve been on a long journey but actually theyā€™re local. They tell Joshuaā€™s people that theyā€™ve heard of the might of God and their exploits and that, from a distance, they want to make a peace treaty with them. Apparently, the Israelites are somewhat flattered that their fame has spread far and wide, so, without giving it much thought, they seal the deal with Gibeon. To the surprise of the Israelites, they find that theyā€™ve made a deal with one of the groups theyā€™re supposed to purge from Canaan! What a blunder on the side of the Israelites and what resourcefulness on the side of Gibeon! The problem, of course, for Israel is that, while they were examining the dried, moldy bread from the saddlebags of the emissaries they forgot to ā€œask God about it.ā€ They relied on their own wisdom rather than on the guidance of the Lord. Iā€™d like to be very critical of the Israelites at this point, but Iā€™d better tread carefully here. How many times have I, in my so called wisdom, checked out all the facts, made up a ā€œpros and consā€ list, researched the issue and moved on it. Only after the fact I may have tossed an ā€œand, by the way Lord, please bless what Iā€™m about to doā€ prayer. As I see Israel making an un-prayed over deal with Gibeon Iā€™m sorry to say I see myself all too often doing the same sort of thing.
Take Away: Youā€™ll never be sorry you prayed first.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Lake Minden Thousand Trails – Nicolaus, CA

Stopping the sun
Joshua 10: The sun stopped in its tracks in mid sky; just sat there all day.
Because of the significant military victories of the Israelite army, word of their success has spread like wildfire through the area. These residents of Canaan are cruel, child sacrificing, warring peoples, but some unite in an effort to stop the advance of Joshua and his army. The battle that ensues is a momentous one. In one fight they’ll either gain a decisive advantage or be beaten back. Itā€™s during this battle that Joshua asks for an unbelievable favor from God. He asks that the sun stand still so that they can continue to fight while they have the advantage. God answers and the sun stops in the sky as the battle rages. Of course, the impossibility of that actually happening is clearer to me than it is to Joshua, who doesn’t understand anything at all about the solar system. I’m no scientist, but I know that if the sun stood still that it would mean the earth quit rotating, and if the earth stopped turningā€¦well, it would be the end of the world. Needless to say, I would never pray the prayer Joshua prayed — I’m too educated to do that. But here we have poor, ignorant Joshua asking for something that couldn’t possibly happen. What’s that? You say that the Bible says it did happen? Listen, I have no idea of how God could stop the sun in the sky without the entire solar system crashing. Itā€™s such a big miracle that I, even with my limited knowledge, could never pray for it. Joshua doesn’t know that the earth is round and is spinning and is orbiting around the sun. All he knows is that he needs a miracle from God. And that, my friend, is the whole point. Sometimes I need to throw out all the facts and hold on to the only real Fact, God, Himself. I need to be careful that I’m not so “smart” that God can’t do for me what he wants to do. Take Away: God specializes in doing the impossible and he doesnā€™t need for me to explain to him what he can or canā€™t do.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Ponderosa Thousand Trails – Lotus, CA

Sometimes God is a stranger to me
Joshua 11: It was God’s idea that they all would stubbornly fight the Israelites so he could put them under the holy curse without mercy.
Itā€™s bloody with lots of death and destruction. Individual tribes and cities and also coalitions of previous enemies resist the onslaught of Joshuaā€™s army. Now victory has come and war is over. I know that the book of Joshua gives a “marching to victory” view of the Canaan Conquest while Judges paints a less pretty picture, but frankly, even the positive view of Joshua makes me cringe. All the slaughter of entire peoples: men, women, and children — even, in some cases, animals. The Scriptures explain that it isn’t that God wants to give Canaan to the Israelites so he helps them exterminate those who live there. Rather, itā€™s that those who live there are so degenerate, so unholy, that God doesn’t want them or anything about them to contaminate the people he’s chosen. Still, I struggle with this because it seems so distant from “God is love.” I confess that sometimes God is a stranger to me. Still, that which is wrong humanly speaking isnā€™t necessarily wrong for the Creator. The “Giver of Life” has full authority to be the “Taker of Life.” Sometimes devotional lessons are hard to come by in passages like this, but here’s what I get today: there is an “other-ness,” a sobering, even a fear-generating side of the Lord. I love him and I trust his character but I definitely don’t always understand who he is and why he does what he does. I am glad God Almighty doesn’t need me to be his defender.
Take Away: Sometimes we simply have to trust and believe even as we struggle to understand.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Ponderosa Thousand Trails – Lotus, CA

Hereā€™s whatā€™s next
Joshua 13: This is the land that remains.
The book of Joshua fast forwards through many years and many battles. Thatā€™s okay with me. As Iā€™ve said before, Iā€™m rather uncomfortable with all the blood and death involved in this march across Canaan. Weā€™re given a list of defeated kings, starting with the first battle at Jericho. In all, thirty-one are listed. These battles continued for years, even decades, and after I see this list of battles won Iā€™m told that Joshuaā€™s now a senior citizen. All in all, Joshua and all of the Israelites should feel good about what theyā€™ve accomplished. However, even as the Lord speaks to Joshua in complimentary terms, he also reminds him that thereā€™s more for Israel to do. In fact, the Lord has a list of places that are yet to be occupied. He assures Joshua that this task isnā€™t his, God, himself, will handle the clearing of the land in preparation for the continued expansion of their territory. Even though Joshuaā€™s day is winding down, the Lord is looking ahead to the next step, the continuation of his grand plan. Itā€™s reasonable to be reminded here that God not only works in my life, walking with me day by day but he also sees the big picture that I donā€™t see. I serve him, cooperating with his purposes in all my life, but when my day is done, the Lord doesnā€™t close up shop and call it a day. He continues right on into the next chapter, and the next. As I read this passage I find that truth to be somewhat humbling.
Take Away: The Lord sees a bigger picture than we see.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Yosemite National Park

What can an old man do?
Joshua 14: So give me this hill country that God promised me.
With the battles ending, the country is being divided up among the people of Israel. An old friend comes to the leader, Joshua, with an insistent request. Caleb was a mature 40 years old when he was named one of the 12 to scout out the Promised Land. Now of the 12, only he and Joshua are left, with Caleb at 85 years of age. All of his contemporaries are dead and he’s in the twilight of life. But he doesn’t come to Joshua to reminisce about the good old days. A generation ago, when the people were revolting against God this man stood firmly for God. The Lord was pleased with Caleb and promised that a portion of Canaan would be his. Now, Caleb is reminding Joshua of that. For over 40 years Caleb has remembered that land and now he wants it as his inheritance. The thing is this section of Canaan is still unconquered. In fact, thereā€™s a fortress there. What is an 85-year-old man going to do in the face of such opposition? Caleb says, “Just give it to me and see what I am going to do!” You have to like old Caleb! This guy trusts God to keep his word, and not just in some vague theoretical sense. He trusts God in a blood and dirt, “let’s get to it” kind of way. Tell you what, I want to be more like that — more ready to take God at his word and start claiming that which he’s promised me.
Take Away: The Lord can do amazing things through a person who takes him at his word.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Yosemite National Park

ā€œGood enoughā€ thinking isnā€™t good enough
Joshua 17: But they never did get rid of them.
In some movies when certain people appear on screen or when certain words are said we hear the background musical score take on an ominous tone. Thatā€™s what we ought to hear when the phrase, ā€œthey never did get rid of themā€ or something similar is read concerning the occupation of Canaan by the various tribal groups. As happens in those movies, what sounds pretty innocuous in the Book of Joshua becomes deadly serious as we continue reading into the Book of Judges and beyond. So far as the Israelites under Joshuaā€™s leadership are concerned itā€™s not a big deal. Their opposition is defeated. There are no more armies to fight. A few stubborn hold outs wonā€™t give up and move away, but they’re submissive and provide reliable slave labor. Out on the edges of the land there are still serious enemies, but they have great respect for the power of the army of Israel and arenā€™t a threat. Israel will leave them alone if those unfriendly neighbors will leave them alone. After a generation of war itā€™s time to build houses and plant crops and adapt to a more peaceful life. Again, it seems reasonable, practical. However, itā€™s not what the Lord told them to do. Their failure is going to cost their descendants dearly. It will all be quite clear as I continue into the Book of Judges and beyond. I think we all live in danger of ā€œgood enoughā€ thinking. What’s good enough for me right now may not have the momentum to carry through the next rough spot that’s over the horizon. I need to let this passage remind me to pay careful attention to the Lordā€™s direction on my life and not substitute my so-called wisdom for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Take Away: ā€œGood enoughā€ isnā€™t good enough until weā€™ve do all the Lord has told us to do.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Yosemite National Park

Cities of refuge
Joshua 20: A person shall escape for refuge to one of these cities.
Weā€™ve been looking over Joshua’s shoulder as the newly occupied Promised Land is divided up among the tribes of Israel. Frankly, this isn’t an especially inspirational section of the book. Now we are down to special cases: cities for the Levites and priests, and the Asylum-Cities. These cities are important places indeed. If a person has messed up and accidentally killed someone they can flee there and find mercy. These cities of refuge are the only hope for some in need of a second chance. I think there will always be a need for “cities of refuge.” Simply put, people mess up. Our world is filled with broken families, broken promises, and shattered dreams. The need of the day is not for the Church to tell lost people how bad they are as it is to tell them that there’s still hope. To some extent every church is to be a “city of refuge.” Godā€™s people are to offer, in Christ, mercy and hope of restoration. The Church is to be a city of refuge for hurting, broken people.
Take Away: Hurting people, including people whoā€™ve messed up, need hope and through Christ the Church offers that hope.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Yosemite National Park

God keeps his promises
Joshua 21: Not one word failed from all the good words God spoke to the house of Israel. Everything came out right.
The battles are over, the land divided, and the special cities designated. Itā€™s a time now for reflection. Soon Joshua will call the people together and preach a “conclusive” sermon of his own, even as Moses did decades earlier. Here’s the thing: God has kept all the promises he made to them. Today, I operate under certain promises: “believe and be saved,” “I am with you to the end of the age,” “I will come back and take you to be with me.” Sometimes just the receiving of God’s promises takes an effort on my part. Beyond that it almost always calls for my patience and trust as I wait to realize it in my life. The great phrase before me today is this: “Everything came out right.” With that in mind I stay the course. God has made promises and everything will, indeed, come out right.
Take Away: Receiving Godā€™s promises almost always takes patience.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Near Yosemite Lakes Thousand Trails, Groveland, CA

Stand guard over your heart
Joshua 23: Now, vigilantly guard your souls: Love God, your God.
The final pages of the book of Joshua contain the sermon Joshua preached to the people of Israel in his old age. Itā€™s a mere “sermonette” when compared Moses’ farewell that fills most of the book of Deuteronomy. It may be that since Joshua has been primarily a military leader that he’s short on words and long on action. Still, Joshua has things to say that are worth hearing. He reminds his hearers that their success is all due to the gracious hand of God. One Israelite soldier has put a thousand enemy combatants on the run. Only God could do that. Their unprecedented success is because of God’s goodness. Still, there’s one area where they must be ever vigilant: their souls. Moses warned them about this many years earlier and Joshua renews that warning now. Even with military victories won there remains the battle for their hearts. As an army posts sentries to keep watch against enemy intrusion, they must stand guard over their own lives. Now, I already know that two or three pages over I will find myself in the dark ages of the book of Judges, but here I find Joshua already warning them of what’s coming. How sad to win the land and yet lose the greater war. Joshua tells them to “stand guard.” That’s good preaching to the people of Israel 3300 years ago and its good preaching for me to hear today.
Take Away: The most important thing for me to protect is my own heart.

Devotional on Joshua

2014 – Yosemite National Park

Come on guys, be a real man
Joshua 24: As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.
Hereā€™s the most famous thing Joshua says and what a glorious declaration it is. Heā€™s come to a decision and now heā€™s making a firm commitment to abide by that decision. While Joshua can’t control what others do Joshua knows what he and his family are going to do: they’re going to worship God. I know some might squirm a bit at Joshua’s including his family in his declaration of intent. Our Western culture says, “But Joshua, everyone has to make their own decision — you can’t just unilaterally speak for your family.” The fact of the matter is that, in his culture, he can do just that. Heā€™s the leader of his family, and his worship of God isn’t built around a 21st century reading of John 3:16 anyway. In fact, while I know this concept can be abused, most families need the man of the house to stand up and say, “We’ll worship God.” Fathers and husbands need to show some leadership. Men need to make a commitment and to take action. I doubt that there are many wives who would be offended if their husband showed some of the manly leadership Joshua shows here. “Alright family, Iā€™ve come to a decision: weā€™re going to worship God.”
Take Away: A manā€™s influence over his family is powerful.