Sunday, March 10, 2013: Joshua 5:9-12
The television show Parenthood begins each episode with a snippet of a Dylan melody and the lyrics, “May God bless and keep you. . . . May you always do for others, and let others do for you.” Blessings are like blankets of covering and shields of hope. God works through us to extend blessings to those who need them so that when life happens—with its swirling of good and bad events, happiness and sadness—God can bind together members of a community.
Under Joshua’s leadership, the children of Israel were being prepared to occupy the land flowing with milk and honey. They learned practices of obedience and faithful living before God—like crossing the Jordan River and placing 12 stones down and marking the place, Gilgal, as holy. They learned what it meant when the entire community submitted to the pain of circumcision and took time for healing. Both events led them to the celebration of the Passover and the hearing and holding of a particular blessing, “Your disgrace is being rolled away.” In that holy place, with practices enacted, manna was no longer needed. There was provision enough in the bounty of the land around them.
The church needs to hear the same messages. “Our shame is taken away” and “where you are there is enough.” Its people need to hear: “You are free from shame. You are free from fear.” Jesus Christ urges us on to live in a new creation, and because of his love we are freed and forgiven, redeemed and reconciled.
