Reaching the Promised Land-The Here and Now

The Here and Now, after reading the book of Joshua I am in absolute Awe of God. His Righteous Judgment, His Sovereignty, His Faithfulness, Holiness is too much for just one sinner to comprehend but there is hope. For all these attributes of God are accompanied by His grace and mercy, the escape clause we all desperately need.

People always say the God of the Old Testament is different to the God of the New Testament."The Bible contradicts itself." Christian people might even say "lets just preach God grace and not His Wrath," may I ask why?

God's Grace and His Wrath should never be separated at any one time.Firstly if you claim that the Bible contradicts itself you are taking the position I am my own god, its your choice and I'll respect that. Secondly the Bible never ever separates God's grace and mercy with His Judgment. Genesis 3, is illustrated throughout scripture:

After Adam and Eve sinned, after God's Judgment He made them "skin garments" to cover their own nakedness, the foreshadowing of Saviour. This act of mercy from God for even to clothe Adam and Eve, magnifies His love for humanity even though us humans decided to reject His word.

Coming to Joshua, in reading God's promise to Abraham, the conquering of the land had to do with the peoples sin and His Righteous. Rehab and her household were saved while her land was under God's judgment. The nation that conned the Israelites were saved under God's judgment, the inference from the text is clear. Israel were warned in Deuteronomy that the possession of the land was not because of her righteousness "for you are a stiff neck people." In Joshua they are warned either you serve Yahweh and stick to His Word or the "people surrounding you will be a snare to you amongst you."End of Joshua seems promising that they will serve Yahweh. Post Joshua is a different story altogether. A whole generation grew up without knowing what God had done for them (Judges). Israel is also judged, and put under captivity but God promises that he will write "His laws on their hearts and minds" (Ezekiel, Jeremiah) under a new covenant of the coming Messiah. Read the Old Testament Gospel of Hosea. Chapter 6 verse 1-7:

"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,that we may live in his presence.Let us acknowledge the LORD;let us press on to acknowledge him.As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;he will come to us like the winter rains,like the spring rains that water the earth.""What can I do with you, Ephraim?What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,like the early dew that disappears.Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,I killed you with the words of my mouth;my judgments flashed like lightning upon you.For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Like Adam, they have broken the covenant—they were unfaithful to me there."

The heart of the Gospel is the same as the Old Testament. The Cross is as important and central to the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus bore God Wrath of our sin past, present and future. So that we may have fellowship with the Father. The curtain was torn. We can enter on the basis of Christ alone. The only contribution we bring to our relationship with God though Christ Jesus is our sin. We stand on grace alone for we too will be judged. The Gospels preaches the Crucifixion and Resurrection. The apostles in the epistles preach, "Christ Crucified" and the "hope we all share in the Resurrection."

My point we should never as believers divorce grace and judgment for God's grace and mercy magnify His enduring love for humanity.Today there is a seeker sensitive movement, "the emerging church." Expository teaching is said to be a hindrance towards evangelism according in some quarters of this new movement.They will say and do what will make people comfortably with intentions of leading them to Christ. Sounds all good and well but lets not underscore or even over score God's Grace because through His judgment there is mercy and an abundance of love.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:17, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

-Lloyd