"Lessons From Vacation Bible School"

A sermon preached by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), based on Joshua 1:1-9.

Our lessons for Vacation Bible School this past week were taken from the Book of Joshua, and there we focused on the people of Israel as they made their journey into the Promised Land – that land that God had promised to Abraham many years before, and that land that their fathers and mothers had been traveling toward for 40 years while in the wilderness. They make their journey into this land under their new leader – Joshua, whom Moses appointed. Through these stories we learned 3 important or vital truths and they are: God is real, God is with us and God is our strength.
For those of you who have read the Book of Deuteronomy, which is also the last book of the Torah – those first five books of the Old Testament, then you realize that it ends rather abruptly – it is really a cliff-hanging or, as I like to say, it has a soap-opera ending. At the end of the Deuteronomy, there is still much left unresolved. Most notably, the Israelites have not yet enter their Promised Land. Although, Moses has brought them a long way; from bondage in Egypt as slaves to free people with a law code of their own, the people are encamped on the plains of Moab, immediately east of the border of Canaan, in a place called Shittem. The Jordan River is the only thing standing between them and their Promised Land. And as Moses’ final act on behalf of Israel, he transfers power to his trusted and faithful friend, Joshua who has accompanied him along the way. And then, at the ripe old age of 120, Moses climbs Mount Nebo, where he is able to look out across the plain and see the Promised Land, and with the assurance that the Israelites will soon enter their Promised Land, Moses dies. Christine Saunders said the other night, that perhaps the cause of his death was climbing Mount Nebo at the age 120. But you may recall that God had declared that Moses’ generation would pass before they entered the Promised Land, due to their lack of faith and trust in God’s provision and guidance and promises. Deuteronomy ends with a fitting tribute to Moses, the greatest prophet of the Hebrew Scriptures.
And from there we pick up the story in the Book of Joshua. And encamped in Shittem, the first thing Joshua did was send two spies ahead into Jericho. Upon entering the city these two spies go to the home of a prostitute named Rahab. Now, it may seem rather odd that these spies go to such a place, but we must realize that Rahab’s home was easily assessable in and out of the city. Also, her house would be a prominent place to receive any information being that a lot of people would have gathered there. And so, the spies go there to hear and gauge how the people of Jericho feel about the Israelites who are camped just across the Jordan River. Rahab proved to be a wealth of valuable information. She shared how the people of Jericho were terrified because they had heard of the incredible things God had done for the Israelites. Rahab even reveals her own faith in God. In fact, she says; “For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below” (Joshua 2:11). Rahab believed that God was real! Now, I think it is important to understand that while Rahab was a prostitute, she wasn’t a cultic prostitute. The people of Jericho were polytheistic – they worshiped many gods, and one of those gods was the god of fertility – Baal, and as part of the religious structure there would be prostitutes – and their sexual acts were acts of worship to Baal. Instead, Rahab was a common prostitute, perhaps she resulted to this lifestyle as a means of income because she was a widow, since there is no mention of her husband. But the special thing about Rahab was, despite her lifestyle, she believed in God. In fact, when she affirms her faith in God she does so using the Hebrew word for God, Yahweh and because of her faith God uses and blesses her.
Not only had Rahab proved to be a source of useful information for the two spies, but she also protects them, by hiding them on her rooftop, when soldiers came to her house. And at nightfall, she helps them escape out of the city and back to Shittem.
Later, we are told, that when the Israelites capture the city of Jericho, they spare the house with the scarlet cord in the window – for this was the sign that Rahab used to alert the Israelites. She and her family were later brought into the nation of Israel. The cord’s color is undoubtedly significant; it represents the color of blood, which signifies atonement. Rahab is a beautiful type of you and me. Through Christ, we have been saved and welcomed into the family of God.
The New Testament letter to the Hebrews lists Rahab as one of the heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:31), while James mentions Rahab in his plea for believers not to forget that works are an important outgrowth of their faith (James 2:25). And she is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus recorded in the gospel of Matthew. What a beautiful story! You see, this story reveals God’s willingness to use the less than perfect, the outcast, what we might see as the unsuitable to accomplish God’s holy purposes. My friends, God doesn’t wait for us to become perfect in our faith in order to use us. Rather, God takes us and uses us as we are to be both a blessing to ourselves and to others, and in the process helps us to grow in our faith.
We are told that when the spies return to Shittem, where the Israelites are encamped, with the positive report, they make preparations to enter the Promised Land. The entire nation prepared to cross this river which, keep in mind, was swollen from the spring rains. At this point, the river was moving rather rapidly and was probably somewhere between 10 to 15, maybe even 20 feet deep. However, this proves to be insignificant because its waters miraculously roll back when the Levite priests enter the river, carrying the Ark of the Covenant – that symbol of God’s presence and the entire nation crossed on dry ground into the Promised Land.
Next, the Israelites did something that was common whenever something significant or miraculous had occurred. God commanded that a representative from each of the 12 tribes collect a stone from the dried riverbed and erect them as a lasting memorial to what God has accomplished there. And in the same way, Peter, in his epistle, reminds us that we are called to be “living stones” – we are called to represent God’s goodness and love and grace in the world.
Israel’s miraculous crossing of the Jordan River not only further affirms the leadership of Joshua, but it also affirms that God was with them, especially as they prepare to go into battle. This miracle mirrors Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea 40 years earlier. It almost seems as if God is renewing the faith of his people! It, in many respects, symbolizes a re-baptism. For the crossing of the Red Sea was the Israelite’s baptism – leaving the slavery and bondage of Egypt to a land of freedom and plenty. But in the process of going to this land, the people show a lack of faith and trust in God’s providence and benevolence. But 40 years later they cross the waters of the Jordan as a sign of renewing their baptism as they enter the Promised Land.
And, as the people enter the area known as Gilgal, from the Hebrew word meaning “to roll,” just outside of Jericho, they celebrate Passover, as a way of renewing their relationship in God who has gilgal or “rolled” the sin and shame of their ancestors off of them.
Once again, Joshua is reassured of God’s presence through the Angel of the Lord. You see, just as God has with Moses at the burning bush, so now, God instructs Joshua to take off his sandals which further emphasizes God’s blessing upon his leadership.
Jericho is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Archeologists have unearthed the remains of over 20 successive settlements there, dating back 11,000 years ago to 9,000 B.C.E. Jericho lies about 8 miles northwest of the site where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea and some 5 miles west of the Jordan where the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal . It was a wonderful oasis, and was and still is known as “the city of palms”.
And the Israelites are now ready to go into Jericho, and get the conquest underway, but they find themselves up against another obstacle – the heavily fortified walls of Jericho which separate the Israelite army from their first victory. The walls of Jericho were renowned in the ancient world. Apparently, as one of the oldest cities of human civilization, Jericho had learned over the millennia that the best defense is strong, tall walls. But the irony of this story is that as Joshua looks at the tightly shut walls of Jericho, God says, “See, I’ve delivered Jericho into your hands” (Joshua 6:1-2).
I love the unorthodox battle plans that God gives Joshua. God says; “Have the soldiers and seven priests with seven trumpets parade with the Ark of the Covenant once around the city every day for six days. Then, on the seventh day, the group should march around the city seven times, and then sound all the [shofars or] trumpets and everyone should shout at the top of their lungs.” I am sure the Israelites said; You’ve got to be kidding me!” And I am sure the inhabitants of Jericho laughed at them.” The reference to the number seven shows that it was a divine plan. And sure enough, this divine plan paid off – the walls came tumbling down, totally exposing the unprepared people of Jericho. I find it interesting that archeology has discovered that the walls of Jericho did, in fact, fall as a result of an earthquake or siege in the late 16th century B.C.E. .
Through these stories we have learned that God is real, God is with us and God is our strength, and we are invited, like the people of Israel did at Gilgal, to renew our faith and trust in God’s goodness and strength.
Interestingly enough, the Gospel’s Lectionary Reading for today is the story of Jesus walking to his disciples on the water. And within that story we are reminded of those same important truths. God is real! When the disciples see Jesus they saw; “Who is it?” And Jesus says; “It is I…,” and we are also reminded that God is with us, for Jesus continues by saying; “Be not afraid…” And finally, we are reminded that God is our strength, for when Peter, who steps out of the boat and endeavors to walk to Christ begins to sink, it is Jesus to stretches out his hand to rescue him.
I think one commentator said it best; “Faith is never constant; it comes and goes with the varying circumstances of our lives.” How true that is! And certainly, the people of Israel and Peter becomes the all too human representatives of us - daring, then doubting, and finally dependent on the Lord for what we need most, our salvation. And so, may these stories endeavor us to test the wellness and wetness of our baptism by stepping into the water, but more importantly, by reaching for a hand that’s just beyond the safety of the boat and seeking to accomplish great things for God and God’s kingdom. All the while, never forgetting, that God is real, and God is with us and God is our strength. Amen.