[Discoveries] 11-02-07 Miracles for the mistaken -- Joshua 10:12

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/Again, another all time favorite. I remember a conversation with my 
wife's grandmother, a rather staunch German Mennonite. I said to her, "I 
am so glad that God is tolerant." At first she was affronted by that. 
But then, as we talked we both realized that if God wasn't tolerant, 
neither one of us would be there. God works with regular human beings 
who make lots of mistakes. In fact, that's what He specializes in doing./

/*"O sun, stand still ... " -- Joshua 10:12*/

I'm always struck by this passage. Joshua gives a command to the 
heavenly bodies, and God rearranges the laws of physics so that they 
obey him. It's one of the greatest miracles in all of scripture. In its 
scientific magnitude, it is an even greater miracle than the parting of 
the Red Sea.

But that isn't the main reason I'm so taken by what happened here. I'm 
struck by the context. Joshua just blew it. The Gibeonites, posing as 
distant travelers, deceived Joshua and the other leaders into making a 
prohibited treaty with them. Joshua was clearly negligent for failing to 
inquire of the Lord before ratifying the treaty. Now, here in chapter 
10, he's dealing with the aftermath of his mistake. The Gibeonites are 
in trouble; Joshua and all Israel are called upon to save them.

God could have washed His hands of the entire affair. He could have 
said, "You got yourself into this mess; you get yourself out of it. 
Don't look to Me to help you defend these wicked Gibeonites."

But He doesn't do anything of the sort. God is a God of people who make 
mistakes, people who blow it, people who mess up.

I don't like making mistakes, but when I do, God gently reminds me that 
the work of God isn't about me and how perfect I am; rather, it is about 
the God who shows up despite our failings.

Be encouraged!
Dwight


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