Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don't know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it "really" means. Let's see where this takes us!
Joshua 23
I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).
In his last days, Joshua reminds the leaders of Israel that:
10 One of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, as he promised you. 11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.
12 "For if you turn back and join the survivors of these nations left here among you and intermarry with them, so that you marry their women and they yours, 13 know assuredly that the Lord your God will not continue to drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the Lord your God has given you."
Going back to the allegorical Shem and Ham, this is about the spirit (the God within you, your highest Self) mastering the material world of the flesh.
Israel is you, and Biblical stories are about the battle over your mind. Faith in Spirit ultimately led to triumph; Israel conquered and subdued Canaan just as your Spirit ought to control your Flesh.
The Flesh can judge only by appearances, and therefore falls into error, fear, and slavery. Marrying the Flesh, becoming attached to it, to "what is," leads to that same slavery. The Spirit, however, is imaginative, which means it sees beyond the perceptions of the Flesh.
This story isn't about conquest or the dangers of "intermixing" with other nationalities. It's about self-control, of choosing what will guide you: the flesh and its appearances, or the spirit and your imagination?
Decades earlier, a previous generation of Israelites, the generation of Moses, did not even try to conquer Canaan because they couldn't imagine it. Moses could, but the people could not.
The generation of Joshua could imagine it, and their imagination saw fulfillment.
Just as Joshua warns Israel against marrying the remnant of Canaan, we should be warned about "marrying" our physical bodies. May the flesh be the servant, not the master, or even the spouse.
Bodies come and go, but Spirit is forever.
James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.
(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)
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