A Witness Against Us

Passage: Joshua 24:1-27

This last conversation between Joshua and his people is kind of like a conversation I have almost nightly with my four-year-old daughter. Our bedtime routine goes kind of like this:

• I read her a couple of stories.
• She asks for more; I usually read one more; she asks for more; I say, “That’s enough.”
• I tuck her in. She moves around and gets untucked. I tuck her in again.
• She sits up and asks for a drink of water. I get her one. She drinks it and I tuck her in again.
• I pray with her, and sing her a song of her choice. Usually “Twinkle, Twinkle”; sometimes a song that doesn’t exist, necessitating I make one up on the spot.
• Then I turn on her nightlight. I make my way to the door.
• As I try to leave she says, “Daddy, I have one more question.” She asks three more questions.
• Finally, as everything but my face is out the door I say, “Stay in your bed now. If you come out I’ll have to turn out your light.” I say this knowing that she will come out of her room at least once or twice. But she always responds, “No, no, don’t turn out my light. I’ll stay in bed.” “Promise?” “Promise.”

As Joshua’s saying good-bye to the people of Israel, he reiterates the lessons they’ve learned together. And he repeats the warning God’s given his people again and again: Obey God’s commandments; be faithful to the God who has been faithful to you; if you are unfaithful, you will suffer. The people respond, “We’ll never turn our backs on God. God is our God. God all the way!” They are adamant. Nothing will come between them and their God.

Joshua’s not convinced. But he hopes for the best. He sets up a simple monument to commemorate this moment. He says, “This stone will be a monument. A monument to your commitment to the LORD. And a monument against you should you fail to uphold it.” The people are certain. They say, “It will be a witness against us.”

If you read Joshua in isolation, this almost seems like a happy moment. But the monument to the people’s commitment will soon become a monument to their unfaithfulness - a mockery rather than a symbol of their love for God. Unlike his people, God never wavers in his commitment. On one hand he commits to protect and provide for his people so long as they’re faithful. On the other he commits to let them suffer if they’re unfaithful. As the Book of Judges will attest, God makes good both commitments. If only his people could follow through on theirs.