Over-Reacting

But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
          Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
          When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai,  who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.
          Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”(Joshua 7:1-1-9)

 

         When I read passages like today's, with people tearing their clothes, falling on their faces, sprinkling dust on their heads, I tend to shake my head. What strange behavior. Then something goes wrong. It doesn't matter if it's SOMETHING or something it's a major crisis and I "over-react" (at least according to the people around me. Oh, I don't tear my clothes. My $2.00 or even $5.00 t-shirt is too valuable for me to damage and it's more important to maintain my dignity by not exposing too much flesh than it is to express my despair or horror over events. I have fallen on my face, on my nice soft bed or on the livingroom carpet, but in the middle of the a crowd? As for throwing dirt on my head, well, but it's ...dirt. Can't I find something cleaner? 

        Of course, some of this is cultural, but have you ever felt so strongly about something that you're willing to express your anguish in ways that inconvenience, embarrass, disgrace, humble, soil or otherwise might cause others to take notice and judge you. Is there anything over which you would say it's right to over-react? I'm not suggesting attacking another person, but what about effectively attacking yourself? Is there something? I suspect that as Americans, there probably isn't. Maybe there should be.

            In today's passage, Joshua and the elders get together as a group and they "over-react" to their military defeat. Joshua has good reason. He was told that where-ever he went, he would be victorious as long as he obeyed. The defeat meant that he, and/or the Israelites didn't obey in some way and he didn't know what it was. That was worth getting upset about. The big disobedience, we're told, was that Achan had stolen from God. 

        There's a small problem that isn't mentioned. The spies came backs and gave Joshua their recommendations. It doesn't mention anywhere that anyone asked God's opinion. Had they asked and not gotten any answer, or had they asked and been told that God would not bless the attack because of the (then) unknown sin, lives could have been saved. I'm not judging Joshua in this. How many times have I gone ahead with plans without asking God what He wanted, and had things not work out? How many times have I kicked myself (figuratively) for stupid decisions? If only.... 

          These are questions I suspect we need to be asking ourselves. Is my life in line with Scripture? If not, shouldn't I be over-reacting? Shouldn't I be doing something? Have I checked with God before going ahead with my plans? If I haven't gotten an answer, have I over-reacted and sought Him harder? If things don't go right, do I even ask God what the problem is? It might not be my fault, but it might be. 

       And, if I give in to my lust as Achen did, do I hide it under the tent floor hoping God won't notice, or do I take it to God and make restitution? There was provision in the law for this, if the person took the initiative. 

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