David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Joshua 9-11, Psalm 92.

Joshua 10:12-21

At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
    and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
¹³ And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
    until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. ¹⁴ There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

¹⁵ So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

¹⁶ These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. ¹⁷ And it was told to Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” ¹⁸ And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them, ¹⁹ but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” ²⁰ When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a great blow until they were wiped out, and when the remnant that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, ²¹ then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel.

I’ve often said that the Old Testament shows us, again and again, what does not finally bring about the life God intends. Consider:

• A perfect creation, a garden full of good gifts, and only one prohibition—and yet it is undone by Adam and Eve’s sin.
• God judges the world’s wickedness through the flood, cleansing the earth—yet afterward, Noah falls into drunkenness, and sin rises again within his own family.
• God rescues his people from slavery in Egypt—yet they grumble, long to return, and that generation forfeits the promise.
• Joshua defeats cities and kings—and for a time there is peace… but only for a time.

Military victories, dramatic rescues, decisive judgments—even a perfect beginning—do not bring the fullness of God’s reign and rule. That is yet to come.

And yet, these same events reveal what is sure:

• God is the Creator of all things—and what he makes is good.
• God is mighty and gracious—rescuing his people and confounding his enemies.
• God does not ignore evil, yet provides a way of salvation for his people—flawed as they are.
• God hears even bold prayers, showing his power over all creation.

So while these accounts show what does not finally accomplish God’s purpose, they clearly show who God is—and in that we take comfort.

The final answer comes not through greater displays of power, but through something altogether different. This is what we remember this week.

God’s saving work is carried out in Jesus—through his life, teaching, miracles, betrayal, suffering, death, and resurrection. And it will be completed when Christ returns and gathers his people into the eternal Promised Land of light and joy.

On Maundy Thursday, a woman anoints Jesus in preparation for his burial. He shares the Passover with his disciples. In the garden, he prays while they sleep. Judas betrays him with a kiss. Jesus is arrested.

It does not look like victory. Nothing like Jericho. Nothing like Ai.

But those earlier stories were not the end—and neither is this one.

The history of Israel unfolds in a pattern of grace received, then forgotten, followed by exile, repentance, and restoration—until, after centuries of silence, John the Baptist calls people to prepare the way of the Lord.

Now that same pattern gathers around Jesus—but with one decisive difference:

Jesus remains faithful.

He goes to the cross. He dies. And he rises again.

So we sit in these moments of Maundy Thursday. We hear his new commandment—to love one another. And we wait—not for a possible salvation, but for the salvation Jesus has won for us..