In our walk through Scripture, we’ve completed the Pentateuch, or the first five books that are frequently what’s referred to as Torah. I’m grateful to have read it through, and I’m grateful to be done. We start the book of Joshua with his commissioning, be strong and courageous. We then read about the spies that Joshua sends to Jericho.
The spies enter the house of Rahab, referred to as a prostitute, and there she harbors them from the king’s soldiers sent to find the Israelite spies. Rahab hides the two Israelites and sends the soldiers on a wild goose chase. In return she asks for the safety of her family, when the Israelites return to conquer the city.
There’s a great non-profit in my community called Rahab’s Sisters, that provides meals and a night of safety for women who work the streets, and women who live on the streets. It’s a lovely show of radical hospitality, assuring everyone is served, and it’s a fascinating group of women served. There’s even a security presence, as some of these women are ‘managed’ by unfriendly demanding men. The guard has told the managers, also sometimes referred to as ‘boyfriends’, that while they’re having dinner, the women are not to be disturbed. It’s a lovely thing, and I appreciate the odd detail in scripture that Rahab was a prostitute. All are welcome; all are loved; all have a place in the fulfilling of God’s kingdom.
And today, I’m struck by the commissioning to Joshua. Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed. The Lord is with you. There’s something missing from this sentence, that can either be read into it as implied, or it acknowledged as intentionally missing. What’s missing is the sentiment that God will keep you safe. God will protect you. God will indemnify you from all woes.
It’s not there. Joshua was not promised that he will escape all harm. That there won’t be bad things that happen. He was commissioned to be courageous and not be frightened. God is with him.
It’s God’s presence that is being promised, not necessarily God’s protection.
There are days where I’d like to infer into Scripture that God has promised no pain, no danger, no risk. And then when there is pain, danger, illness, risk, it’s easy to feel cheated that God did not live up to God’s promise. But that is not what God is promising, and I think it’s short sighted to read into Scripture this sort of promise. Sure, we all want to be protected. Sure, we’d like to think God will keep all safe. But what we are promised is that God will be with us. This should be sufficient, right?
Even Psalm 23, that oft-quoted “the Lord is my Shepherd” psalm does not promise protection. It promises presence.
This morning, I’m thinking about God’s promise of presence, and about how I can increase my confidence that presence is sufficient to be courageous.
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