In today’s blog, Pastor Kyle Idleman (Gods at War) presents and discusses the 3rd and 4th options offered by Joshua.
Option 3: Gods of Our Culture– The newest gods the Israelites encountered, “the newcomers to this cosmic clash” as the author puts it, belonged to the Amorites. The most significant weapon the Amorite gods had was proximity, the proverbial home field advantage. They were gods who hid in plain sight. Worship of these gods was so ingrained it seemed natural and harmless. Specifically, Pastor Idleman asserts, “two of the most significant factors that consistently determine which gods win the war are time and place.” Are there idols we don’t recognize simply because they’re so common? As J. B. Phillips paraphrased Romans 12: 2- “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.”
Option 4: God Himself– Joshua’s 4th option really has been the only option all along. None of the other gods (options) are real. they are mirages that enslave, rob, and disappoint us. It is interesting to note, the author states, that Joshua didn’t validate the Israelites’ response, but instead talked about the jealousy and holiness of God- describing the danger of not living up to the words they had just spoken. Pastor Idleman’s comment on the Israelites is equally applicable to us today: “It’s so simple to produce the right platitudes on cue, . . . but it’s so hard to keep living the truth.”
Today’s question: Which of Joshua’s 4 options most resonated with you? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Pleasure and pain”