“Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and [with great sorrow] they put dust on their heads. Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why have You brought this people across the Jordan at all, only to hand us over to the Amorites, to destroy us? … So the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them [to keep]… That is why the soldiers of Israel could not stand [and defend themselves] …I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from among you. Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves…””
Joshua 7:6-7, 10-13 AMP
Soon after Joshua comes face to face with the Angel of the Lord and witnesses the walls of Jericho crumble and fall, he faces his first defeat, and his immediate response was to posture himself before the Lord in “why posture”. He tore his clothes and threw dust over his head – and asked what I so often want to know … why?!?His posture was one of mourning and sorrow like we saw in Job 2:12 when Job’s friends first saw him.
As I read the passage today, I realized I posture myself in a similar fashion quite often. Something bad happens or doesn’t go the way I think and I cry, I mourn, and I ask the Lord “why??!! Why is this thing happening to me? Why did You allow this?”
And G-d’s response to my why, to Joshua’s why? GET UP. Deal with the sin. Sanctify yourself. Worship Me.
The Israelites were defeated because they sinned and disobeyed G-d. The stole things that did not belong to them and kept what G-d told them to destroy. Likewise, in my own life, often the “why” is a consequence for sin and disobedience.
When I read the passage today, I pictured the “why posture” of Joshua as a little whiny and not worshipful. As I began to ponder that image and my life and my own responses, I realized the image I have is because I am often that way – whiny when I want to know why. G-d quietly spoke to my heart that when something “strange” is happening and I want to know “why” I should check my heart, my life, and my home for sin. He’s not afraid of my why questions. Asking why isn’t wrong. Sometimes there’s no explanation – but other times, the “why” is because of sin.
“Why” is a very common question. Sometimes we’ll never know the reasons. Sometimes we will. And sometimes, He graciously answers my “why posture” by pointing out sin in my life and giving me a chance to repent. But other times, He asks me to trust Him with the why. “Why did this bad thing happen Lord, it’s not “fair!”” He graciously and mercifully tolerates my why – but the truth is, if I fully trusted Him, the why wouldn’t matter so much.
G-d doesn’t share His glory. G-d alone is holy and He cannot dwell where sin abounds – known sin or hidden sin. G-d wants my worship. G-d wants my heart – fully devoted to Him, fully trusting in Him, fully committed to Him alone.
I realized today my “why posture” comes out of doubt and from a place of distrust. He’s asking me to lay down my long held “why’s” at His feet today. He asking me to turn my “why posture” into a posture of worship. Him above my need to know why. He says to my heart today – like He said to Joshua then – GET UP and worship Me.
Father – forgive me for doubting. Forgive me for demanding a why. Your way is perfect. You alone know all things. You are good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Joshua 5-8