No Better Way - Joshua 24

The book of Joshua is rife with transition, the Israelites facing change nearly on a daily basis. They were standing on the banks of the Jordan river looking on at the land the Lord had said was theirs. They, and their new leader Joshua, had received the command to “Be strong and of good courage” for one simple reason, because the Lord God Almighty was with them!

Essentially chapters 2-13:8 are all about conquering. Not conquering for conquering sake, but conquering because God had given them the land set out before them. It wasn’t their land, but it was His land to do with what he wanted. That’s what sovereignty means. While sovereignty without love is devasting and cruel, sovereignty with love is a welcome reign under which to live. 

There was another reason for the conquering. All the land that lay before the Israelites was inhabited by peoples who served many, many gods. Jim Edelin, in the Illustrated Bible Life periodical (Fall 2018), reviews several reasons that polytheism was attractive, three of which I will highlight here. The first was economic incentive—if a people worshiped the gods of the land, water and air, and if those gods elected to answer their prayers by providing all that was needed agriculturally, then it was very economically beneficial to serve them. Secondly, many of these gods had tangible images of all shapes and sizes throughout these kingdoms. A visible, touchable statue or painting provided a welcome sense of being “able to control the divine world.” A controllable god appears to be quite advantageous. Thirdly, the sensual nature of worship gave vast permissions for people to indulge in whatever sexual pleasures that they could imagine or crave. Temple prostitution was wide-spread and easily accessible. While to some the sensual pleasures were valued as ecstatic worship experiences, Israel’s God knew that indulging in them to the extreme could lead to poor health, disease and misunderstanding of sex as the ultimate act of human behavior. Edelin concludes by writing that these elements of pagan worship, were really just “an illusion that God could be manipulated” and that one’s life could be self-orchestrated. This was the essential temptation—to be like God—plied to Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden. These were some of the religious principles that the Israelites had been tempted to in Egypt as well as rife within the land that God had promised to them. Conquering these lands and their idols was the way that God would see his Kingdom come during their age.

The Israelites moved all the way through the land of God’s promise, taking some missteps along the way (note Achin’s sin in Chapter 7 and the Gibeonite deception and consequential treaty in Chapter 9), but still conquering everyone else along the way. In 13:9-22:34, Joshua, their faithful and triumphant leader, worked with the one, true, living God to divide up the land in equitable ways. He also gave the Levites towns, if not land, so that they could be dedicated to the work of the Lord. Throughout this leveraging of their new land, they kept affirming that they would only serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and continually. But something was still amiss.

In Joshua 23, Joshua, now old and having seen them through many battles had a farewell speech to give to the Israelites. It includes prophetic words directly from God. This speech is reminiscent of Stephen’s speech in Acts 7:1-53 as a recalling of their history and a sound rebuke. And a sound rebuke is what they needed!

Read Joshua 24:1-13.

By recalling his history of these victories, victories that clearly could not have accomplished on their own, God set up the ultimate choice for the Israelites. Remembering this history would be important because Israel’s God was master Provider, Master of the Elements, King of kings, Military Strategist extraordinaire. Why would anyone want any other god?!

Read Joshua 24:14-15.

Choice. It is the gift that God has given to all of humanity. Rather than being automatons or robots, we have been given a free will to either choose God, gods or ourselves. Joshua recognized this choice. He knew that something was still amiss. He knew that for all of their devoted talk, some still harbored love and affection for other gods. Perhaps they were hiding the statues, or perhaps they were openly exhibiting them to influence their Israelite neighbors intentionally or unwittingly. But, after all that they had been through with the highest God, Joshua set the choice before them deliberately. If they did not like God, if they didn’t think He had done much for them, if you they thought it best to follow the tradition of multiple gods . . . As simple as it is to give in to the prevailing culture, it is more powerful and a far better way to use the gift of will to choose to follow God.

The voice of Joshua, faithful and true, rang out in confrontation and with God’s offer of complete redemption. “Now fear the Lord!” and “Throw away the idols!” and “Choose!” echoed off the hillsides. The proclamation of a choice is powerful. It meant that the Israelites did not have to worship other gods! They did not have to be subject to economic or agricultural prosperity to thrive. Indeed, every parcel of land on which they set their foot was an unearned parcel. They had not built those cities! They had not nurtured the vineyards! They had not spent generations cultivating the olive groves! There was only one way that they had acquired all of those riches—God himself had provided it for them. So, in light of that great provision by the highest God, there was no better way but for them to go with God!

Throw away those pitiful statues who cannot provide as God provides!  Pile them up in a heap and burn them to ashes to be swept away by the wind that God created. Toss them in to the garbage dump and watch them decay while your God continues to provide for you whether or not the crops or rains are good. Choose today! Choose every day!

Joshua, whose name means “salvation”, then said something that was not prophetic, not a quote of God’s words, not a communal statement. He stated that he and his family made that choice. Indeed, he had made that choice when he was a young man called by Moses to lead an army and explore the land. He had made the choice day after day through every battle, all of the changes and transitions up to the Promised Land and now in the Promised Land. No one or no thing had ever deterred Joshua. His God had imbued him with wisdom on how to use his choice. And he employed that choice for the best way—all along the way.

Read Joshua 24:16-28.

Joshua then entered into a dialog with the people. He makes a statement that seems so counter to their ardent voices. “You won’t be able to do this because God is holy.”  Of course, they won’t be able to do this! Not because it is impossible, but because some of them would use their will to go against God despite what they were affirming on that day. The function of this statement is also a check on their ardor. Every time Joshua pronounced failure over them, they responded that they would not deny God—with even more ardor. It’s as if only the volume of their voices were what they believed was required. But what God required was a daily devotion to Him, a daily sweeping clean of the house, a daily dedication to ridding their lives of all other gods, a daily acknowledgement that there really was no better way than to follow God. 

Joshua did several deliberate things then. He reaffirmed all of the decrees and laws that had been handed down.  “Yes, these are still the rules we play by.” He wrote the re-committal down. “Yes, you can confirm this later on in writing.” A large stone was moved as a reminder of their re-affirmation. “When you see this, remember Who you committed to.” They said it. They heard it. They read it. They recognized it that day. There was no better way.

Read Joshua 24:28-33.

At this, Joshua had done his part. There really was nothing further that he could do besides living out his few remaining days the way he had lived them for so long—free of idols, free of superstition, free of the whims of human desires without God, free of prosperity tied to his own efforts, free of trying to control his own world, free to love the God who had guided him all along the way.

Reading further in the Old Testament, we see that God’s people go up and down through valleys of commitment and re-commitment. Many of them suffered the sad consequences of going back on their choices. And many of them, and at times just a remnant, clung to their choice of God.

What is your choice today?

Prayer: Almighty God, Maker of Heaven and Earth. Today I recommit to you because there really is no better way. I acknowledge my weaknesses, my lack of self-discipline, my insatiable hunger to provide for myself and manipulate You. Please help me and give me the wisdom to know how to employ the gift of my will that you have given me. You are the best Way and I choose to follow You. Amen

Copyright 2019 M. R. Hyde

Launch of First Audio Book - Exploring the Lord's Prayer

After many years of wanting to and then finally getting down to it, I have produced my first audio book! Exploring the Lord's Prayer is now available at Audible.com. I have been praying that readers, and now listeners alike, would learn and grow from the what the Lord has taught me about this wonderful prayer.  

There are plans to produce more of my books for audio as time allows. So, be sure to watch this blog for future announcements and/or put yourself onto my Mail Chimp list!

God bless us all!

In Him,

M.R. Hyde

Christmas Provisions

The early American settlers had to set aside provisions for the hard winters ahead. They would stock things in barrels and jars and even bury some of those things in hillsides. They were planning ahead for what was needed. There was very little room for wants. Perhaps a tiny package of hard candy was tucked into a corner next to the salt pork, flour and lard. When one is in survival mode, there’s not much room for anything but necessities. For many people around the world who live in remote or cold winter areas, this same activity happens today.

When it comes to provisioning, one must plan ahead. One must think through every possible need.  Thinking of what might occur, and what might not be at the ready, is critical to survival. Firewood must be stockpiled throughout the warmer seasons. The harvests must be prepared properly to avoid spoil and decay. The chinks and breaches in living quarters must be filled and sealed.  Oh, there is so much to do for the difficult days!

As I have been meditating on this Christmas season, I have been struck with how our God has laid up provisions for us. He knows our needs and he planned well in advance for us. He provided . . .

-a promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—a promise that all the world would be blessed through their offspring

-prophecies that affirmed that a Messiah would come to save the world

-a star, a special star, that would guide truth-seekers to their Savior

-a virgin, who in all humility, accepted the role of mother for the Child-King

-an earthly father who, though he was afraid, took the courage of the Lord to protect his family

-an inn keeper who had a barn and was willing to share

-an angel choir singing the greatest announcement in the world

-dreams that guided the Savior’s family to a foreign land for protection from a heinous and violent leader

-an end to the heinous and violent leader so that the Savior’s family could return home

-costly gifts from the magi—gold, frankincense and myrrh—which provided monetarily for the Savior’s family

-a home for the Savior to grow up in safety and comfort as a child

-houses of worship where the young Messiah could learn and teach

-a confirmation of our Savior’s mission and purpose on earth through a baptism event with John

-miracles to demonstrate the Savior’s power and compassion while he walked among us

-disciples who left everything to follow the Way, the Truth and the Life and were dedicated enough to let others know about this Way

-a sacrifice, the greatest sacrifice of all, to purchase our redemption through the Savior’s death on a cross

-the resurrection to speak to death and hell, in a most final way, that they did not have the victory

-salvation for all humanity that is constantly offered by grace and through faith

-hope, that exudes itself powerfully and quietly in the midst of turmoil, war and devastation

-a future that is full of promise for daily provision and eternal rest.

This Christmas we can rest in the knowledge that God provided and provides in the most thorough and well thought-out ways. There is nothing missing in his Christmas provision.  Everything we really need is there. May we rejoice now, and in 2016, for the provision of Jesus Christ and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit!  May we sing with the angels the ancient and new song . . .

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

~Luke 2:14

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

M.R. Hyde

New Book - Beyond Gender: An Essay with Sermons on Women

I finally finished publishing Beyond Gender: An Essay with Sermons on Women. This is an essay (a.k.a. graduate paper) I wrote way back in 1995 on women in ministry. This book has literally been two decades in the making. That sure sounds old, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it. This essay was an incredibly important journey for me. I was a young woman with a call to preach not knowing which way to turn. Now after twenty years, I find that those early discoveries of other women in ministry are still just as important.  Hopefully they will be for some readers out there as well.

Here's a brief description of a far more recent bit of research found in the book celebrating the life and call of a women named Deborah.  You can find this sermon/essay in Beyond Gender.

Remarkably, I discovered that I had not yet preached or written on Deborah, a prophetess, leader and judge in Israel. This rather shocked me because her life and example have fed so much of my own strength and courage over the years. So, I recently wrote a piece on this remarkable woman and have included it in this portion of the book.  I hope that, in some small way, looking closely at her will help others as God has helped me through her example and life.

I invite you to read Beyond Gender if freedom in ministry is what you seek.

The paperback version should be available in the next couple of weeks at Lulu.com and other fine retailers.

May God bless and help all of his men and women called into and working in His great Kingdom!

M.R. Hyde  

And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit
on all people.
Your sons and daughters
will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants,
both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit
in those days.

~ Joel 2:28-29

The Lad with the Fish John 6:1-13, 25-35

Let’s call his name Joshua.  And let’s think of him as an old, old man.  Joshua was an old man with a great memory for detail.  He loved to tell and retell memories that were important to him.  Everyone who knew Joshua enjoyed his stories, because not only was he quite old with many, many different stories, but he was gifted a story-teller, too.  So, anytime Joshua cleared his throat and said, “Did I ever tell you about the time . . . “, everyone would lean in to listen.

“Did I ever tell you about the time I was a little boy at a great banquet?  No?  Well, back when I was quite young, probably not more ten or eleven, I went out by the sea.  There were a great many people there from all over the region—tall, short, young, old, rich, poor, crippled, and healthy.

“The day was a beautiful day.  The sun was bright in the late afternoon sky.  You had to squint your eyes when you looked at the sea because a million little sunbursts were exploding across the surface of the deep, blue-green water.  It felt like they were bouncing off of the surface and right into my eyes.

“I remember the sea breeze racing over my skin and ducking into my clothes as if it was looking for a place to hide.  Birds coasted over and dove into the water, scooping up late afternoon insects or top-dwelling fish.

“As the afternoon went on I started feeling a bit hungry.  I was glad that my mother packed me a meal.  She was nearby and was constantly looking at something over the shoulders of other people in front of us.  I couldn’t really see much of anything.  All I really saw were the bellies and backs of the adults all around me.  Occasionally I would catch the eye of other children being squeezed in the sea of legs, walking sticks and backpacks.  Every once in a while a dog would run through yapping and yipping.  That was kind of fun, and sometimes a bit scary if they were coming right at me.  But all I had to do was reach for my mother’s or father’s hand and I felt secure again.

“I remember at one point I started getting tired and told my Mom that I was hungry.  She told me to wait just a bit more, because we were getting closer.  ‘Closer to what?’ I asked.  ‘Just hang on to me and you will see’.

“A moment or two later there was an opening in the crowd.  I could see that there was a group of men standing together and everyone wanted to touch one man in particular.  Then I heard a strange conversation that was started by the man everyone was looking at, (John 6:5b-7)"Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"  Then another man answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"  I told you there were lots of people there.

 “It was at the point my mother remembered my whining for dinner and she quickly handed me my meal.  I eagerly opened it, but then all of the sudden I heard one of the men say, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

“I can tell you for certain that my little stomach was not any too happy to give up my meal—for what it was worth.  But there was something about the urgency of the moment.  So, I handed it—napkin and all—to the men.

“I can still remember the surprise of those around us. I can still see some of the smiles on the faces of the adults as they looked down at me.  And I can still remember my mother leaning down suddenly with a warm hug, whispering in my ear.  ‘That’s Jesus! You just gave your lunch to Jesus.  I am so proud of you.’

“I had heard the name of Jesus in my parent’s conversations.  I remembered hearing that He was a good man, who helped people everywhere He went.  But it wasn’t until this particular day that I really saw what that meant.

“You see, there were thousands of people out by the sea that day.  It was only as I grew a bit older that I truly comprehended why everyone wanted to be near this man named Jesus.  They had come from far and wide, some of them forgetting to even bring food, some of them having run out of food as they followed Him that day.  So really it wasn’t just me that was hungry—we all were.  And Jesus wanted us to be fed.

“Then I heard Jesus say, “Have the people sit down.” (6:10a). I remember reading about it later and it was written this way: There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. (6:10b-13) 

“I don’t think that I can rightly tell you how He did it—the fish and the bread just did not stop coming.  I know three things from that day 1) I gave Him my lunch, 2) He gave thanks to God and 3) then we all had lunch!

 “The writer put it this way: When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. (6:12-13)

“I don’t care what anyone says, that was a banquet!  Everyone around me, my mother, and everyone we walked by on the way home—not one of them complained of being hungry.

 “From that day forward I thanked God just the way Jesus did for my food.  But something else happened that day. I began to want to follow Jesus myself.  Not because my mother wanted me to, but because I wanted to go.  Every opportunity I got I wanted to thank Him for that feast and all the ones to come.”

______________________________

The Apostle John remembered this story that we find in the Gospels.  He remembered the little boy.  And later in chapter 6 of the Gospel of John we see that he remembered something else.  Jesus took their recent experience of actual bread to teach them a profound truth about who He is. 

Read John 6:26-33.

Today we can acknowledge the Bread from heaven.  It is Jesus Christ who has given us life—real life.  He’s given us far more than homes to live in, food on the table, emotional healing, restored relationships.  He’s given us far more than cars and work and money and courage to endure and strength to carry on.  He’s given us above all we can ask and imagine—and that is salvation from sin and into spiritual peace now and eternal peace forever.

Take some time right now to give thanks for all the Jesus Christ has given you.

Amen

Copyright M.R. Hyde 2014