Readings for today: Joshua 19-22
“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)
What does it mean to be a witness? And what are we “witnessing” to? For the tribes of Israel, the altar by the Jordan was built to remind them they were all part of one large family. Deeply connected by their common kinship with Abraham but also their covenant with God Himself. The tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh were concerned that future generations might 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 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.
Ultimately, the Bible itself is the pre-eminent 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. Even in the face of our sin. Even in the face of our rebellion. Even in the face of our evil. Even in the face of all our brokenness, God pursues us. God relentlessly chases us. God never lets us go.
Now, more than ever, the world needs a witness. The world needs the church to stand forth as a witness to God’s continued grace and mercy and miraculous strength. The world needs a witness from the church that is humble and servant-hearted. The world needs to experience the witness of the church as kind and generous. Perhaps most of all, the world needs to see the courage and boldness of the church in this time of fear and anxiety. They need to see a group of people over whom fear has no hold for their confidence is in the perfect love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Friends, in times like these throughout history the church has shined like stars in the nighttime sky. My prayer for you. My prayer for us. My prayer for PEPC. My prayer for all the churches I have the privilege of partnering with in our community, in our denomination, and around the world is that we would be witnesses of “imposing size” during this challenging time not for our sake but for the glory of God!
Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 23-34, Judges 1