Readings for today: Joshua 21:1-22:20, Luke 20:1-26, Psalms 89:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16
”The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, "For," they said, "it is a witness between us that the Lord is God." (Josh. 22:34)
I know we are bleeding a bit into tomorrow’s reading here but what does it mean to you to be a witness? To give a witness? To testify? For my friends in the African-American church, when the preacher asks for a “witness” it means it’s time for someone to stand and tell of all the Lord has done. In our readings for today and tomorrow, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh build an altar and name it “Witness” to remind all the tribes in the coming years that they are part of one large family. Deeply connected by their common kinship with Abraham and more importantly, their covenant with God Himself. The leaders of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were concerned that future generations of Israelitesmight forget this connection and start to see the Jordan River as the boundary between God’s people and the rest of the world. They didn’t want to be left out so before they crossed the Jordan to take possession of their inheritance, they built a monument of “imposing size.” Not for burnt offerings. Not for sacrifices. But as a witness to all of Israel that they were one people under Yahweh. Every time an Israelite would pass by the monument, it would “witness” to their shared history and deep connection.
In the Book of Acts, Jesus calls us “His witnesses.” We are witnesses in our neighborhoods, cities, nations, and to the very ends of the earth. In this way, we are living memorials to all God has done. We are living monuments to a shared history. A common heritage. The deep connection we share as God’s chosen people. We “witness” to the glory and goodness of God. We “witness” to the unity we share as the family of God. Anytime someone “passes us by” or interacts with us on any level, they should leave having “witnessed” the mercy and grace of God and having felt the deep love we have for one another.
The Bible itself is a “witness.” I love what Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” The only reason we know this statement is true is because we have an accurate record of what took place. This is why we read the Old Testament. Within its pages, God “witnesses” to us over and over again of His great faithfulness and love.
Ultimately, of course, the resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as God’s pre-eminent witness to all creation that He loves us too much to let us go. He will never stop pursuing us. Never stop chasing us. Never stop reaching out to us. He bridges the gap between heaven and earth to save us. He descends into the darkness of death and hell and God-forsakenness to deliver us. He rises once again, leading in victorious procession those who have died in faith. This is what we celebrate on Easter! God’s ultimate witness to His own steadfast love and faithfulness!
Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 22:21-23:16, Luke 20:27-47, Psalms 89:14-37, Proverbs 13:17-19