Last August 2023, our small group visited Touch of Glory in Antipolo.
It was time for a break, and to seek the Lord. It is a relaxing experience to surround yourself with trees, the sound of nature and fresh air.
Sharing some snaps from the area.
During this trip, I read Joshua 24:
14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:14-15
"But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord" is one of the more familiar verses for me. But what resonated with during this trip was start of the chapter. Before Joshua asked the Israelites to choose, he reminded them of God's faithfulness.
Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham...
Joshua 24:1-3
Joshua reminded them of God's faithfulness from Abraham to Moses and finally to Joshua. Sometimes we think that we love God because this is the right thing to do, the noble thing to do and we feel it is selfish if we think that we love God because God of his goodness. But in here, God is literally telling them "Choose me because I have been so good and loving to you".
Interestingly, God did not mention about the 403 years of slavery between the time of Joseph and Moses. Also no one from Israel said... Wait a minute didn't God allowed us to be enslaved for 403 years? The impact of the reminder was fully positive. God has been good and faithful to them. Thier response to this charge from Joshua was:
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.
Joshua 24:16-17
What did I learn here?
1. Our anchor for loving God is that because He is good and loving. There is nothing selfish about this.
2. Good and loving does not mean no pain (ehem... 403 years of slavery). God cares for our growth and He will let you experience pain if it is for our own good and for His glory.
3. Like a good father, the people entrusted to our care does not only need warm and fuzzy feelings. Let us imitate God by challenging people entrusted to our care and not necessarily shielding from pain or challenge if it is good for them.