Of Crashes and Crushes

Old man Job probably had things just about like he wanted them on the day the crash came.

Most people considered him to be in an enviable position: prosperous, respected in the community, good church-going man, his kids adored him, his wife even thought right smart of him.

And then the crash came.

Blow by blow ... servant after servant each came with a message of heart-rending loss. And when it finally stopped - only because there just wasn't anything much left to be taken away - Job just sat himself down in a pile of ashes.

Fitting.

Why would God let that happen to a man that appeared to be so righteous - a man who seemed to want to please God at every turn.

That was the same question Job's three friends were contemplating as they came to "comfort" him.

We don't understand crashes, even today. But God was in it. At the very least, we who have the benefit of God's perspective know that this was bigger than Job and his stuff and his family. This showdown originated in the heavenlies and the proportions were eternal.

Have you ever had one of those days ... or weeks ... years ... when things just seemed to crash down on you in a rapid fire manner?

Lately, I have been reading about a similar rapid-fire attack that comes from a completely different Bible story.

I used to take on Bible reading as if the Bible were something I should conquer. You know - "I'll get through this if it kills me!"

But a closing comment in a High School Sunday School class, led by the Pastor's wife - who, incidentally, wasn't particularly hip - changed my perspective. She told that little group that it wasn't important how much we read in the Word. She said we should just try to read a verse a day - but "get something out of it".

That was very freeing to me.

I began with that minimalist approach and soon found that I was adding more verses and eventually chapters to my daily reading -not because I felt under obligation but because it became interesting.

Now some thirty years later, that approach still works. A little while back, I decided to embark on a campaign to read the Bible through but to do it very s-l-o-w-l-y. It has been very interesting. And I have learned that the Bible is not a document that one can conquer or master... it's effect is Spirit-driven. So a verse can say one thing to me one day, and on another day yet another point from the same verse will jump out at me. Never can we get to the point of having learned it all.

This slow approach is also why after nearly two years, I am just up to the book of Joshua.

In that book about the Israelites conquering the Promised Land at long last, I have learned some interesting things.

Shortly after a couple of impressive victories, the people that inhabited the land that was Promised to Israel became concerned. One little country, Gibeon, pulled a ruse on the Israelites. They sent ambassadors into the camp, pretending to have traveled from very, very far away. They convinced Joshua and the leaders - and soon a covenant deal was struck. Israel would come to their aid if they were ever attacked.

Some days later, the game was revealed but it was too late - a deal's a deal.

So the country of Gibeon was no longer one that Israel could conquer. Joshua had to honor his word.

The Bible is explicit in pointing out that Joshua did not consult God on this matter. That's why he got into trouble.

Now, several other kings got together and decided the best defense might be a good offense; so they attacked Gibeon in order to draw Israel into a battle.

If I were Joshua, I would be beating myself up at that point. He hadn't consulted with God, and that resulted in loss of opportunity and now in having to defend a country that just tricked him. Now he faced a crushing blow from a multi-national force.

But God spoke to him and told that no one would be able to stand before him.

So he mustered his army and they performed an all night forced march to Gibeon. At first light, they surprised the enemy.

The battle ensued and the Israelites did pretty good on their own, but then God got involved and provided a murderous hail-storm to wipe out even more of the enemy. What's more, when Joshua found himself running short of daylight, he took the occasion of God's promise to him, to command the sun to sit still for awhile until he could finish the job.

It did, and he did.

In rapid-fire style, one army after another came after Joshua in a matter of just a few days - all of this stemming from that allegiance Joshua had made with Gibeon. The crush was on.

Finally, the fighting stopped.

As the dust settled, Joshua and his army looked around to realize that they had conquered the entire southern portion of the Promised Land.

All in just a matter of days, and all in spite of the fact that Joshua and the leaders had acted foolishly.

Now I can see a multitude of applications for this lesson:
Of course, there is the national financial crisis in which we now find ourselves after our leaders have been deceived and acted foolishly.

But beyond that. . . what about in your daily life. . . when Mondays arrive and it seems everyone has been just waiting throughout the weekend for an opportunity to pounce on you.

Maybe you are in a financial dilemma and all of a sudden everyone you owe decided to call you on the same day.

Maybe your marriage is shaky, and you wonder how many more attacks it can withstand before somebody takes off.

Even if you are in one of these situations or something worse and even if it is a problem of your own making, God is able to weave your foolish actions into His -story for you.

There are things going on - big things - things of eternal proportions. Some days we just have to keep battling all day long and then some.

But if you are able to line up with God's plan, rest assured that when the dust settles He will have brought you a long ways.

If you want to read these stories you will find them in the Bible - Job, chapter one and Joshua, chapters 7-10.