Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. – Joshua 24:2

Today's Scripture Reading (February 28, 2022): Joshua 24

I find family history amazing. When I have time, which doesn't seem to be very often recently, I love to spend time in my family tree, meeting some of the people who live there. I know that my family name is Irish and that I descend from a man named Peter Mullen who appeared in Poughkeepsie, New York, during the middle years of the 1700s. Where he came from is unknown, but he emigrated from the United States to Canada sometime late in that century. When he arrived in the Americas, or if he was born in the New World, remains a mystery that I have been unable to solve. Also hanging out in my family tree is a Captain of the Dutch Navy who fought in the Dutch civil war in the 1600s and then moved to New Amsterdam, New York, in the middle of that century. But maybe one of the most interesting ancestors hanging out in my family tree is a gentleman named William Atte Wode, who was born sometime prior to 1300 C.E. and who likely died with his son Geoffrey in the Battle of Crecy in 1346 C.E. Sir William Atte Wode was the Captain of the Guard at the Palace of Westminster during the reign of Edward III of England. But when you discuss my heritage, I am Irish, English, Dutch and German, with a few other European nationalities thrown into the mix. But the reality is that my ancestors were in the United States long before the United States was a country, and likewise in Canada long before Canada learned to walk on its own. As a result, I am more of a person of the New World than I am one of the Old.

As Joshua calls the nation together, he wants to remind them of the story of their roots, starting with Abraham. It is Sir William that comes to mind as I begin to read this historical record from Joshua because Sir William is 700 years into my past, just as Abraham was 700 years into Joshua's past. But the passing of seven centuries did not make Abraham any less important for Israel. Abraham was significant, and Abraham's life was where the nation had started. Israel was a promise God had made first to Abraham 700 years earlier, then to Isaac, and finally to Jacob, whose name was later changed to Israel. God had called Abraham out of a nation that had served other gods, just as Joshua's Israel was called to do the same. Joshua lived in a different world than Abraham had, yet that hadn't diminished the importance of Israel's patriarch.

Joshua wants Israel to understand that God had led Israel over the past 700 years. And Israel needed to know that he would continue to be their guide in the years that lay ahead. Through all that had happened over the past 700 years, God had been the constant. And he would be the constant in the next 700 years and the 700 years that would follow after that. And although Joshua didn't know it, it would be at that time that God would send his Messiah into the world, reminding all of us that God would remain the constant that we all need in our lives.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Judges 17

Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. – Joshua 23:14

Today's Scripture Reading (February 27, 2022): Joshua 23

American economist and social theorist Thomas Sowell argues that "Some of the biggest cases of mistaken identity are among intellectuals who have trouble remembering that they are not God." The words should be considered as a warning to some of our politicians and to all who follow them. We do not elect gods to lead our nations. We elect flesh and blood people, all of whom hold onto fallible policies and belief systems. And so do we. Maybe nothing has been made clearer to us in the past several years than that our politicians are often an imperfect reflection of us. None of us have all of the answers; all that anyone can ask of any of us is that we do our very best. Too many modern political leaders and autocrats seem to have come to the undefendable position that they are gods and that they both know and can exercise perfect policies. But the truth is that they are wrong; they are lying to themselves and us.

Joshua makes his final address. He has led Israel for just over three decades, and he knows that his time on this earth is swiftly coming to a close. He has no illusions about what the future might hold. He tells Israel, "Now I am about to go the way of all the earth." It is one of the truths of this life. We all have a shelf life that will eventually expire. One day the time will come for us to leave just as it has for all who have gone before us. None of us are gods, and none of us will live forever.

I think a lot of us struggle with that thought. It is not just that a day will come when we won't be here, but also that a day will come when our family and friends won't be able to depend on us because we have finished the journey as is true "of all the earth." And sometimes, it is hard for us to understand how this world might survive without us. But the truth is that the world was fine before we arrived, and it will be fine after we leave, even though that might be hard for some of us to hear.

Today, nothing remains of Joshua except for his example and a few of his words. And the truth is that Joshua was a fallible leader, as are we all. Maybe the weakest part of his leadership was that he didn't appear to prepare a leader to take the mantle of leadership from him when he went "the way of all the earth." His strategy was clearly to place that mantle of leadership on each of his followers. Joshua told them clearly that they should "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living" (Joshua 24:15). But he also made clear that he had made his choice; "as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

Joshua knew that his life was coming to an end. But before he left the stage, the leader of Israel wanted His followers to understand that while he might have failed as a leader, God never had. All that God had promised had come true. And if they were faithful, God would lead them into an uncertain future. And in a world with Joshua or without him, that was all that they needed to know. God would keep his promises, and God was always enough for the nation that chose to follow him.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 24

On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, 'You have no share in the LORD.' – Joshua 22:27

Today's Scripture Reading (February 26, 2022): Joshua 22

American Author Daniel Wallace in "The Kings and Queens of Roam," argues that "A storyteller makes up things to help other people; a liar makes up things to help himself." It might be a little simplistic in its formation, but explaining the difference between a storyteller and a liar has some merit. Maybe the problem is that sometimes what helps the author of the tale and what helps others is a very fine line and one that might only be seen as we look back at events.

The Transjordanian tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh are heading home after helping the rest of the tribes take Canaan. But when they get to the Jordan River, they decide to build "an imposing altar" (Joshua 22:10) just on the west side of the Jordan River. The altar is a "replica of the Lord's altar, which our ancestors built" (Joshua 22:28). But the altar becomes a source of, at best, a misunderstanding between the tribes. At worst, the building of the altar is an indication of open rebellion by the eastern, Transjordanian Tribes. The Law of Moses strictly prohibited any sacrifice at the altar built by the eastern tribes. The problem was that the only place where a sacrifice was to be offered was at the Tabernacle in Shiloh. And the western tribes are ready to go to war over the perceived slight of the illegal altar.

But the eastern tribes quickly explain what they have done. The altar they had built was not for sacrifice; it was an altar that was created as a reminder that both the Tribes in Canaan and the Transjordanian Tribes had a share in Israel. The altar was meant as a witness between them. The idea was that, if at some time in the future, the descendants forgot that it was their cousins who lived on the other side of the river, this altar would remind them that the God of Israel guided the tribes on both sides of the river. And so, the altar was named "Ed" (Pronounced ayd or aid), which means "A Witness Between Us."

Maybe there is a larger question that we can ask as we look back at history. Was the explanation given by the eastern tribes truthful, or was it a story to get them out of a tight situation? And that is probably something that we will never know. The explanations defused a situation that could have resulted in a civil war between the eastern and western tribes. But the illegal altar presented another danger. This "Altar called Ed," even though it wasn't built for unlawful sacrifices, could have been misused for that purpose in the years of apostasy that were yet to come in Israel. And, sometimes, it really is better to avoid even the appearance of evil.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 23

So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. – Joshua 21:43

Today's Scripture Reading (February 25, 2022): Joshua 21

It is a philosophical question. "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" The quote is often misattributed to Anglo-Irish philosopher George Berkely (1685-1753). While there is little doubt that Berkely dealt with the substance of the question in his writings, it appears that he never actually asked the question. The heart of the question is, does something have to be perceived to be real? Of course, one could argue that just because humans were not present when the tree fell does not mean that no one was there. Surely an animal heard the tree fall, or a bird felt the tree move toward the ground and immediately flew away. Because they perceived the event, maybe the incident is made real.

Logically, the answer to the philosophical question is fairly obvious; it is not perception that makes a noise; it is a change in the structure of the wood that results in the sound. It is the friction of the tree as it bumps into another object on its journey that creates the waves that can be heard. It is the sudden thud as the tree hits the immovable ground that reverberates through the forest, waking any living being in the vicinity with its crash. The Laws of Physics insist that, of course, a tree that falls in the forest makes a sound, even if we aren't there to hear it.

But let me posit another question. Is a gift truly given if no one is willing to receive it? Is perception still necessary, or is this the same as the tree in the forest? And while I believe that a tree in the forest makes a sound even if there is no one there to hear it, I think that a gift is not given unless there is someone there to receive it. In other words, if you give me something, but I don't receive your gift, then, in reality, you never gave it.

Joshua states clearly that "the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors." But I don't believe that is true, not really, and definitely not during the era of Joshua. Oh, God made the land available, but Israel refused to receive it for generations. They left vast stretches of the land unconquered, and cities existed intact over which the tribes of Israel did not rule. Joshua presents a rosier picture than the one that actually existed at the end of his life in Canaan. There is no doubt that Joshua wanted his statement to be true, but desire never makes anything a reality. And in this case, Israel had not received that gift that God had given.

None of this, of course, is God's fault. God had done all that he could do. Now it was up to Israel to receive the gift, making it a reality. But until that happened, the gift had never really been given.

God has made so much available to us in our lives. Yet, often we seem to lack the faith to receive his gift. But that does not mean that God has not answered our prayers, just that we are the ones of little faith who need to work on receiving what God has made available to us.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 22

When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. – Joshua 20:4

Today's Scripture Reading (February 24, 2022): Joshua 20

Gary Portnoy wrote the song as a possible theme song for a sitcom set in a Boston bar. There were several versions of the song. The longest version, which was released as a single, wasn't written until after the song was already accepted as the sitcom's theme. But before the song could be accepted as a theme song, the lyrics, written to reflect the Boston roots, had to be broadened. The original lyrics were;

Singin' the blues when the Red Sox lose,

it's a crisis in your life.

On the run 'cause all your girlfriends

wanna be your wife.

And the laundry ticket's in the wash.

The broadened lyrics became;

Makin' your way in the world today

takes everything you've got.

Takin' a break from all your worries

sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

But, maybe, it was the chorus that made us feel so good.

            Sometimes you want to go

            Where everybody knows your name

            And they're always glad you came.

The song described Cheers, this Boston Bar, as a safe place for all of us. The viewers came to love the inhabitants who regularly pulled up a stool and shared their lives with the audience over the show's run. Where else in the world would an intermittently employed accountant with marriage troubles be welcomed with all of the customers at the bar calling out his name; Norm (played by George Wendt). Or a perpetually single mail carrier, who seems to know the answer to every question but still lives with his mother, be valued, respected, and heard (Cliff, played by John Ratzenberger). One of my favorite "Cliff" lines was when he explained to the bar that the original purpose for a tie was to keep food off your shirt, to which Bartender Coach Ernie Pantusso (Nicholas Colasanto) replies, "You mean their thinking about changing that?"

Whenever I think about a "safe place," one of the first places that comes to mind is this fictional Boston Bar, a place where everybody knows your name, and they are always glad you came.

I also believe that that description should reflect the Christian Church. We should be a safe place, where everybody knows your name, and they are always glad you came. Too often, it has become a place of judgment, a place where we are tested to see if we are worthy of being known. And that is only to our shame.

As Israel began its life in Canaan, they were instructed to set up "Cities of Refuge." Maybe these cities weren't places "where everybody knows your name," but they were safe places where you could go when you were in trouble. It was a place where people could explain their circumstances before the elders and then be accepted on their own merits. Perhaps most importantly, the moment when the person arrives at the "City of Refuge" was not a time for judgment; it was simply a time and place where a person in trouble could be safe. Judgment would come, but not now.

It is a lesson that we need to learn. The Church is not a place of judgment; it is a place of love and acceptance. Judgment will come, but not now. Because, at least in this world, judgment can never be given unless safety is also available. As long as people don't feel safe within our walls, judgment cannot be present.

The Church needs to fulfill its role as a "City of Refuge" for anyone who would like to come. We need to become a place "where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came."

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 21

When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them. – Joshua 19:49

 Today's Scripture Reading (February 23, 2022): Joshua 19

Rudyard Kipling's "If" is a leadership lesson that I think we all need to learn. The first stanza simply says

If you can keep your head when all about you

                        Are losing theirs and blaming it on you

            If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

                        But make allowance for their doubting too;

            If you can wait and not be tired by waiting

                        Or being lied about, don't deal in lies

            Or being hated, don't give way to hating

                        And yet look too good, or talk too wise:

I admit I have to remind myself of the words constantly. I don't particularly appreciate being blamed, hated, or lied about, but it seems to be a constant reality. There always seem to be those who want nothing more than to capitalize on my mistakes (and, unfortunately, I have made my share) and refuse to give real forgiveness. All they want is to make the offender pay.

But, if you will lead, these are the things that will happen and to which we must not react. And that is a hard lesson to learn. (The truth is that I am still trying.) So, Rudyard Kipling's poem continually draws me back into the truth that I need to hear. If you can keep your head … If you can trust yourself … If you can wait and be lied about … if you can ignore the hating. If you can realize that all that is going on is simply not about you, only then are you ready to lead.

Joshua seems to be all that Rudyard Kipling was speaking out in the poem and maybe more. He appeared to be able to keep his head, even amid things that refused to go his way. Joshua avoided the trap of having an inflated opinion of himself, which would have set him up for a fall. He trusted not just in himself but also in his connection with God. It gave him a confidence that no one else had. He kept his critics at bay, listening but never allowing the lies to shake him. And in the end, he was also humble enough to take care of everyone else before he received his own inheritance, taking hold of the things that were promised to him.

This is the mark of a true leader; they are willing to delay gratification of their desires in favor of those they serve.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 20

The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The country was brought under their control. – Joshua 18:1

Today's Scripture Reading (February 22, 2022): Joshua 18

As a kid, I always liked special days. I anticipated them. But I also found out fairly quickly that, no matter what the day celebrated, the anticipation of the day was often better than the celebration itself. And as a result, I was usually almost sorry when the day finally showed up; I missed the anticipation of the upcoming holiday. I think there might be several reasons for this, but one of the reasons might be that the day is sometimes not as special as we dream it to be. We can dream of the perfect day, but when it finally arrives, it often comes with all of the imperfections of every other day. The celebration also comes with its own personality, one that we could never have anticipated and sometimes that we probably didn't want to predict.

Jacob had told his kids about the special things that would happen when the day of the Messiah came. His prophecy read like this:

The scepter will not depart from Judah,
    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until he to whom it belongs shall come
    and the obedience of the nations shall be his (Genesis 49:10).

Jacob's prophecy was that Judah would lead Israel until that day when the one arrived to whom belonged the leadership of the nation. And the phrase that we have translated "he to whom it belongs" is a single Hebrew word; Shiloh. When Shiloh (he to whom it belongs) comes, on that day, there will be a celebration as the leadership of Israel is transferred to him. On that day, everything would be made right, and we would understand this world in a way that we had never understood before.

As Israel takes Canaan and begins to set up the permanent areas where the tribes will live, they also choose where the tabernacle will finally find its rest. And they call that place "Shiloh." For generations, Shiloh would be the place where Israel would come to worship. Or, at least, it was the place where Israel was supposed to go to worship. The problem was that "Shiloh" was a poor imitation of the one about whom Jacob told his sons. The tabernacle was set up at Shiloh, but every worshipper still waited for the one "to whom it belongs." A place called "Shiloh" could never be a substitute for the Messiah.

Eventually, the tabernacle would be moved to Gibeon, and then Solomon would build the temple in Jerusalem to replace the tabernacle. But every step of the way, Israel anticipated the day of the Messiah, the day when Shiloh would come.

Shiloh finally did come, but not in a way that the people had anticipated. So, they rejected him. Even though the Messiah came with a better plan, he didn't measure up to the people's generations-long dream of Shiloh.

Shiloh continues to come, and we continue to need to decide whether we will accept him or wish for the imperfect dream we have developed in our minds. And God leaves the decision up to us. But as for me, I want to leave my inadequate expectation behind so that I can embrace his perfect dream.

Oh, and come, Shiloh, come.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 19

The people of Joseph replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel." – Joshua 17:16

Today's Scripture Reading (February 21, 2022): Joshua 17

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading." The words belong to Siddhārtha Gautama, a wise man who lived in the fifth century B.C.E., who is better known as the Buddha. I have to admit that I love the imagery presented here. Too often, we think we know where we want to go, but the truth is we often don't want what we think we want. So, if we don't dare to change our path, we may get exactly what we think we want. And while we might think that getting what we want is a blessing, in reality, it is a curse and one from which we should run away.

The descendants of Joseph were numerous and powerful. But their curse was the path that they had chosen to walk. They looked at their inheritance, and they weren't satisfied. The people who lived on the plain had chariots fitted with iron, indicating that the chariots contained both offensive and defensive weapons made of iron. These chariots were the height of innovation in the ancient world designed to make their owners an undefeatable force. And when they looked at the hill country, they found even more strength. The phrase "the hill country is not enough for us" is often interpreted as the descendants of Joshua complaining that even they completely took the hill country, it was not big enough. But the actual Hebrew Phrase is "the hills will not be found by us." The hills are unobtainable. Regardless of what the descendants of Jacob do, they will not be able to take the hill country, and therefore the important resources there for making weapons and defensive structures are beyond them. They are a large and powerful tribe, but they feel they deserve an easier path.

The demand of the descendants of Joseph is the reverse of the commitment made by Caleb of Judah, who told Joshua:

Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said (Joshua 14:10-12).

The descendants of Joshua wanted the easy path; Caleb was willing to take the difficult path, knowing that God was with him.

Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joshua, would get precisely what they wanted. They believed that they deserved the easy path and would not turn away from what they thought they deserved. The descendants of Jacob would eventually get what they wanted. And as a result, Ephraim would lead the northern nation straight into exile in Assyria. They would not change directions and ended up precisely where they were headed.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 18