Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

It’s another gorgeous day out there. I hope I can do some good with it. Before getting into my workload, I’ll attempt a jog with this goofy dog. Becki is still away at that Portland conference. She’ll return this evening.

May the Lord bless the race marked out for you.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Two warning signs emerge from this rather laborious reading, heavy with territorial boundary descriptions—(1) Compromise, and (2) Discontent.

1. COMPROMISE. I’m trying to read as though I’m reading for the first time. So I’m getting nervous as I recall the original instructions given by Moses for the conquest of the Promised Land—even though I’m also nervous with the instructions. “…in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them…Otherwise they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshipping their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).
   
   Elements of COMPROMISE are developing—rendering incomplete obedience—rendering promised consequences. “Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem” (15:63). “They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer” (16:10). And now “the people of Joseph” complain to Joshua that the Canaanites that occupy their allotted territory “have iron chariots” (17:16), as though that were a justifiable reason for their not taking them on. Joshua could have hollered in reply (which he did implicitly), “Good grief, guys! God never said this was going to be a walk in the park! Difficulty is not an excuse! It has to be done!” Read Hebrews 12:1 and 2 again.


2. DISCONTENT. “The people of Joseph” are not happy with the size of their allotment. They think it should be bigger (and easier). Sooner or later this insidious enemy sneaks in. Can you identify any group of humans where it doesn’t, or hasn’t?
   
   So you will agree that mankind has a strong built-in attraction to what it doesn’t have—greener grass that’s on the other side of the fence, striving for something different and better. The biggest flaw in finally reaching what satisfies is to meet the reality that it doesn’t satisfy! Why? Because those so questing never seem to notice that they took themselves with them!—the very cause for their discontent! There is no real satisfaction in unregenerate human nature (or compromised regeneration). “But godliness (a HEART AFTER GOD) with contentment is great gain” (Hebrews 12:1-2).