It's Not Pretty

Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River, and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them. “The LORD has given us the whole land,” they said, “for all the people in the land are terrified of us.” [Joshua 2.23-24]

I have written on this passage of scripture several times over the past years. As I reviewed my past thoughts today, it is worth pointing out that my post from three years ago, So Prove It, articulates well my thoughts on this passage again today.

However, much has changed since 2018. Perhaps the greatest change has been that in 2018 no one, including myself, had any idea that the year 2020 would immerse us in the terror of COVID-19. So, let us look at this passage of scripture again...

The shoe has been on the other foot (so to speak) regarding God's people and COVID-19. If I may personify COVID-19 here and give it a voice, I can imagine COVID-19 saying, “for all the people in the land are terrified of us.”

Do you see the problem with the paragraph above? Do you see how real to life it is?

Instead of God's people 'terrifying' COVID-19, it has largely been the other way around. Instead of God's people realizing that God has “...given us the whole land,” they have cowered in the same fear as the rest of the world. Something seems very wrong about that.

Let me compare the phrase “The LORD has given us the whole land,” with another New Testament passage of scripture:

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.18-20]

Just as Israel was "...given ...the whole land," Jesus possessed "...all authority..." and sent His followers in that authority! We, therefore, have been given "...all authority..." in light of His presence with us, "I am with you always..."

So, why are God's people terrified just like everyone else? There is only one right answer, and it's not pretty.

Father, forgive us for being terrified of COVID-19.