May we be people that know, remember, and talk about the faithfulness of God.
Everywhere you look in Scripture, there seems to be a theme or call to remember. Why? Because we so easily forget. I recently got back to the States from a trip to Poland. Now, I like history and enjoy learning about it, but I can easily forget details. It was a gift to walk through the old town of Warsaw, Poland with friends and hear the history of this town, these people. Many of us in the States have learned about World War II in school and/or had relatives that fought in the war, but not many of us remember it quite like the people of Poland – after all, the war was fought on their streets and in their villages. In Warsaw, there stands a huge building that was an apology gift from Germany to Poland for all the events that took place during the war. How could you drive by it and not remember?
In Joshua 1, an important thing is taking place. Moses, the leader of God’s people, has passed away. Now it’s up to a young man named Joshua to lead God’s people into the land He promised them. This is no small task. Imagine following the leadership of a hero in the faith…
In Joshua 1-8, we see time and time again that Joshua commands the people to do something that honors God and calls the people to remember His faithfulness and provision while in Egypt and in the wilderness; and he follows it with this phrase, “When your children ask you what this means…” This is legacy; that those that come after would know God and the ways He was faithful to His people. This is how we remember.
In my family, my great-grandmother was the matriarch of faith. She is the first person that took me into a faith community at the age of six weeks old and she is the one that was my biggest encouragement when I was called into ministry. She had grown up during the Great Depression and lived to see many things, and God was faithful through it all. That was the legacy she wanted to leave in our family – that the generations that came after her would have the same knowledge of God and His faithfulness, and that they would have the courage and boldness to continue telling of God’s good deeds for generations to come.
My great-grandmother was Joshua in our family. May it be so with me, and with you.
May we be people that know, remember, and talk about the faithfulness of God, that what is said in Psalm 145 might be true: “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty – and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works – and I will proclaim your great deeds. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”
