Tuesday 03 June 2008
- Bible Book:
- Joshua
"Then Joshua said to the people, 'You are witnesses against yourselves, that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him'. And the people said, 'We are witnesses'". (v.22)
Background
Most of the book of Joshua is taken up by telling the story ofthe invasion of the promised land by the Israelites. Today'spassage, which comes almost at the end of the book, is set muchlater - "when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all theirenemies all around" (23:1). Joshua, now a grand old man, is nearingdeath and calls the people back together for one final act ofcommitment to God.
Joshua displays great insight and wisdom in this passage - herecognises the importance to people of being able to give anaccount of who we are and where we have come from. This is theimpact of the beautiful story told in verses 2-13. He alsounderstands the need to challenge the people's faith by forcingthem to make a choice (verses 14-15) and by testing the sincerityof that choice by spelling out the consequences (verses19-20).
What stands out powerfully is the concept of being a witnessagainst yourself. Joshua wants to make sure the people know whatthey are letting themselves in for, so he makes them rituallyrepeat their choice for God and then sets up a stone as a permanentreminder of their oath. The word 'covenant' (verse 25) refers tothis solemn agreement made between Joshua and the Israelites beforeGod.
To Ponder
What would your story of faith look like if yourecounted it? Why not try to write it down in story form on a sideof paper?
What, in Christian faith, are the ways we have ofexpressing the awesome sense of what it means to make a decisivechoice for God?