Rosanna-danna

Years ago I was a regular viewer of Saturday Night Live.  Back in those early days, the characters and skits were simply hilarious.  At least I thought so.  Lots of famous comediennes gained their fame from the characters they played on SNL.  Gilda Radner was one of those people, her career cut short by ovarian cancer. 

Rosannadanna was a commentator she portrayed in a news segment with Jane Curtin.  One of the lines she often repeated was "It just goes to show ya', if it's not one thing, it's another." 

And it sure is.

Why is it we can't learn to take every obstacle in stride, trusting God, moving forward at His command, waiting patiently and listening closely for our marching orders. 

In the book of Joshua, the story continues of the Israelite nation.  After 400 years in slavery in Egypt,  generations lost to wilderness wanderings, God had brought them to the land He promised their ancestor Abraham.  They had not had a home, they knew nothing about a permanent dwelling place, just the promises that must have seemed at times like pipe dreams or fairy tales. 

But here they were, the land was before them, and God said it was time.  The inhabitants of the land had been given all those many years to change their ways, turn from the horrible idolatry and it's practices. 

Rahab did.  She and her household were spared. But even after witnessing the waters of the Jordan opening for these people, even after the walls of Jericho fell flat, these clans of people refused to change their hearts.  And it brought destruction to every person. 

I think about what it would be like to be an Israelite in that time.  I feel quite sure my expectations would have been unmet.  I would not have expected so many battles to fight.

My expectations in my own life in this day are so often unmet.  I tend to have scenarios written out in my head.  (And God rarely accomplishes any single thing like I have written.  Imagine that...)

The Israelites won some major battles, well, God really won them.  The Jericho walls sure didn't fall from the force of human feet walking around the city.  One battle was won because God sent hailstones from heaven, "As they fled from before Israel... the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them...there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword."(Joshua 10:11 NASB)

When the enemy retreated, God Himself destroyed those who had escaped the sword of an Israelite warrior. By controlling the forces of the very nature He created, He manipulated the weather and sent hailstones falling from the sky, stones big enough to kill.

But it wasn't over.  Victory was sweet, but there were many many other battles.  "If it's not one thing, it's another"

At 63 years old, it still is.  This morning in my quiet time I reflect on my own battles and victories.  Where would my family be had God not fought with us and for us? 

But how many times have I neglected to stand strong or march forward on His Word? 

I so often have felt like Joshua did in Joshua 7.  So many times I have felt  defeated and pitiful, going into a tailspin, falling on my face and whining. 

Joshua led the warriors into a battle only to be defeated in what he thought was a sure and easy win. 

"Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.

Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?...the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth.

And what will You do for Your great name?" (Joshua 7:6-7 NASB)

Really Joshua?  What will God do for His great name in the face of human defeat? 

Poor Joshua.  I feel like he did.  It is's not one thing it's another.  Fight one long hard battle and taste sweet victory, only to live to face another battle.  And another.  And another. 

God has shown Himself to be merciful to our human emotions, he sent ravens with food to feed Elijah. (1 Kings 17)  Later, when Jezebel vowed to kill him, he hid and whined that "I am the only prophet left"  Jezebel had killed them all and was after Elijah.  God listened to the emotional outburst and sent Elisha alongside him.  (1 Kings 19)

God created us with emotions and I believe he understands them far better than we do.  He allows us to FEEL, but refuses to allow us to be LED only by what we feel.  Our emotions can NOT be the thermometer of our lives. 

He has written by Jeremiah's pen that   "The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out.   But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be." (Jeremiah 17:9-10 from The Message)




God allowed Joshua to feel the emotions of defeat then "GOD said to Joshua, "Get up. Why are you groveling? (Joshua 7:10 from The Message)

"Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?" (KJV)



If it's not one thing, it's another.  People do things they shouldn't do.  I do things I shouldn't do.  And it is never, EVER just about me.  My rebellioun touches you.  Your disobedience touches me.

Praise God for the Redeemer Who takes all of our 'things' and cleanses us from our rebellion, disobedience, failure, fear, and emotional tailspins. 

"Get thee up, Connie"

Preventative

I have been on some medication for a few months to prevent an ulcer from forming in my digestive track.  My cardiologist says he may want me on the heart medication he has prescribed long term, in case this Takotsubo cardiomyopathy reoccurs. Preventative measures they call it...strategies to prevent possible illness in my future. 


I have been reading about the battles that Joshua led as the Israelites began to take possession of the land God had promised to them.  It is unpleasant to read of the slaughtering of entire cities.  

God had given the inhabitants of that land hundreds of years to turn from hideous idolatry, idolatry that even involved sacrificing children to their gods. But there was no repentance, it just seemed to get worse. 

Genesis 15 tells of the promise made to Abraham, the predictions of 400 years in a land not their own, four generations later to return.  All those years, rather than turning to God, the hearts of these nations of people got harder and further from God.  

They could not say that God had not given them opportunities. There were plenty.  

I wonder if one of the reasons God had them all wiped out was a preventative measure. 

"...you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire." (Joshua 11:6 NASB)

Hamstringing horses is unpleasant to think about too.  These animals were mighty beasts of war. And burning up perfectly good chariots??  Why?  

Maybe that too was preventative.  

They had been victorious in their conquests by God's supernatural power, not their own might.  
Yes.  They fought.  
Yes.  It was difficult. 
And yes.  There was victory.  

WHEN they followed God's instructions.  When they did not, they suffered defeat.  

If they had acquired horses and chariots, perhaps they would have put more trust in those
things than in God.  Perhaps if they had chosen to let people live, those people would have influenced them in negative ways.  

Speculation.  The fact is simply, God said. 

I am assured my own personal victory.  Jesus has fought a gruesome battle and won it for me.  He has provided a permanent prevention for me, preventing me from being eternally separated from my Father God.  

Hallelujah.