I’ve been reading in Joshua this morning. I do not remember knowing that Joshua fought for the Lord, clearing the land of enemies, until he was old, long after crossing into Canaan. And I’m not sure if it’s the smoke of that burnt-up old upbringing in Christianity or just the flesh that made me say “Really? even after they crossed over…until he was old?”
I had similar thoughts reading and thinking about all the killing in the book of Joshua. It feels very good to know to say, “God, you’re right. I want your heart,” and repent of my own thoughts, and go on. There really is great comfort in just having that on the inside: “God is right.”
I talked to a dear relative yesterday. It was pleasant enough a conversation, but reading this in Joshua reminded me of how there is still a separating darkness between God’s children and the world, still that dividing veil: “And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them” (Josh. 24:7a).
Beth D.