Learning how to handle current events from Joshua and Rahab

My friend Matthew Henry and I are reading through the book of Joshua and at this time of the continuous news of the debacle of the US’s departure from Afghanistan, I was struck with the contrast in the treatment of Rahab the harlot who had assisted at the risk of her’s and her family’s life, Joshua’s spies as they had entered and spied out the hostile city of Jericho.  

 Joshua Chapter 2 tells us the King of Jericho knew the Israelite men had come to Rahab’s house.  When questioned, she was untruthful to the king’s men saying Joshua’s spies had left when in fact she had hidden them on the roof of her house.  She  protected them, informed  them, and fed  them.  In doing this, she had put herself and her family in great danger, much like those living in the hostile land of Afghanistan who for whatever personal reason had helped US forces as interpreters, guides, scouts, informers, etc.  I’m sure that like Rahab, they had asked for and received some assurances of protection from those they helped.

 Read here in Chapter 6 as the Book of Joshua recounts her protection.

 “22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”

 We have come a long way in the wrong direction.  It’s worth noting I believe that it wasn’t just Rahab who was saved by her brave and selfless actions, but all those she had brought into her house.  They were all taken out of the city and then v24 says the city was burned.

Matthew Henry continues:

"IV. The preservation of Rahab the harlot, or inn-keeper, who perished not with those that believed not, Heb. xi. 31. The public faith was engaged for her safety by the two spies, who acted therein as public persons; and therefore, though the hurry they were in at the taking of the town was no doubt very great, yet Joshua took effectual care for her preservation. The same persons that she had secured were employed to secure her, v. 22, 23. They were best able to do it who knew her and her house, and they were fittest to do it, that it might appear it was for the sake of her kindness to them that she was thus distinguished and had her life given her for a prey. All her kindred were saved with her; like Noah she believed to the saving of her house; and thus faith in Christ brings salvation to the house, Acts xvi. 31. Some ask how her house, which is said to have been upon the wall (ch. ii. 15), escaped falling with the wall; we are sure it did escape, for she and her relations were safe in it, either though it joined so near to the wall as to be said to be upon it, yet it was so far off as not to fall either with the wall or under it; or, rather, that part of the wall on which her house stood fell not. Now being preserved alive, 1. She was left for some time without the camp to be purified from the Gentile superstition, which she was to renounce, and to be prepared for her admission as a proselyte. 2. She was in due time incorporated with the church of Israel, and she and her posterity dwelt in Israel, and her family was remarkable long after. We find her the wife of Salmon, prince of Judah, mother of Boaz, and named among the ancestors of our Saviour, Matt. i. 5. Having received Israelites in the name of Israelites, she had an Israelite's reward. Bishop Pierson observes that Joshua's saving Rahab the harlot, and admitting her into Israel, were a figure of Christ's receiving into his kingdom, and entertaining there, the publicans and the harlots, Matt. xxi. 31. Or it may be applied to the conversion of the Gentiles.”

Many lessons in those few verses.

 

Solomon's Immigration Policy

Most mornings my good friend Matthew Henry and I spend time in the Word, not Microsoft Word, The Word. It can be both interesting and insightful reading the ancient texts and finding applications for today’s problems, all the while enjoying Henry’s 17th century “take” on both personal and world events. 

In 2 Chronicles Chapter 6 and verse 32 it says “Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; 33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.”

These words are in the context of Solomon building the temple, the dedicating of it and are from his prayer of dedication.   He has previously mentioned God's certain presence in temple by the cloud with which God filled it.  My friend Matthew says, “He supposed that those who had not called upon God at other times, yet, in their affliction, would seek him early and earnestly. When they are in distress they will confess their sins, and confess thy name, and make supplication to thee.”   He further says, “Trouble will drive those to God who have said to him, Depart.”  Solomon says the temple is the place for you. 

Many things had happened and continued to happen to God’s chosen people both nationally and individually because of their lack of trust in Him. Things like defeat by an enemy, things like it doesn’t rain anymore, things like I’m upset with my neighbor or my brother and I don’t  know to make it right. 

Solomon says, here’s the temple and it’s the place to make things right.  Matthew says, “He supposed that those who had not called upon God at other times, yet, in their affliction, would seek him early and earnestly. When they are in distress they will confess their sins, and confess thy name, and make supplication to thee.”

And then, almost as an “Oh by the way,” he says a few words about “the stranger who is not of thy people”, and there were a lot of them.  Many came as invited laborers and craftsmen in the building of the temple.  But if they were to “come and pray in this house,” if they were to accept the Israelite traditions, if they were to accept Israel’s moral character, then you God should hear their prayer and they could be like us.  Matthew says, “He supposed that strangers would come from afar to worship the God of Israel and to pay homage to him; and this also might reasonably be expected, considering what worthless things the gods of the nations were, and what proofs the God of Israel had given of his being Lord of the whole earth.”  

Matthew insightfully lists some reasons why these “strangers” might want to do this.  One being the “worthless things the gods of the other nations were,” and as we look at where current immigrants come from we see that as certainly true.  They still come, but they come bringing those worthless things with them.  Other reasons are easily missed, for example in v32; “for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm.”  They came for what they could see God was doing among his chosen people and the protection His “stretched out arm” provided.  What an interesting word picture.  Is God’s arm stretched out in welcome or protection?  May I suggest both?  I think Matthew and I can agree on that.

Can we apply this to today?  I think so.  I’d suggest one of the many reasons “strangers” come to our land is the personal protection our constitution and form of government provides although that has taken some staggering hits lately, but they still come.  Do they come because they can see the blessings our nation provides? I hear immigrants who have been wildly successful saying that very thing.  Do they come because they see God working in our nation,” not so much.  That may have been true at some time in the past but few immigrants are going to worship the God of our Founding Fathers when our own people do not.  We have immigration but very little integration.  The people come but prefer to remain attached to their former “gods” and traditions and why not, do they see us as a nation worshipping the God of the universe or the god of the dollar or the god of convenience?

Ultimately God’s purpose for Israel and I believe for our nation is stated in v33;  “that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel.”  Israel failed and so do we.

Remembering Dunkirk

Every twelve hours or so for the last 80 years on the beaches outside Dunkirk this powerful reminder of what once happened here comes back in sight. This is the wreck of the Crested Eagle, hit by dive bombers in May 1940 and set on fire with the loss of several hundred lives. 

Borrowed from @DanHillHistory on Twitter

A mountainside worship service...

On a Sunday some decades ago, on this hillside not far from the beginning of Cordova Pass and just beyond that fence, the youth group from the Gospel of Grace Church held a morning worship service. There was a message, there were hymns of praise, and if I recall correctly, there might even have been an offering. 

The service was organized and presented by the youth. Can you imagine a better setting?

Today, (07/12/2020) also a Sunday, Joyce and I stopped and remembered that service from all those years ago. What’s really scary is that many of the youthful participants in that service all those years ago are now Grandparents.

Those were great times.