RBWords

     Joshua draws a line in the sand - at least a theological one!  Yet, it is more than that because the question of unity is wrapped up in the question of belief.  It seems that the Children of Israel had some history of straying toward various local deities!  The Golden Calf would still be in memory!  Joshua is shrewd in the way he uses his leadership as a way of focusing the question.  The choice is not just about "the Lord" or other familiar deities or whatever they may find across the Jordan.  It's a question of whether or not they will unify behind Joshua to gain the land already occupied by other tribes!  He uses a bit of psychology in telling the people that he's not sure they want to follow "the Lord," because the Lord is "a jealous God," who won't put up with any straying!  The people swear to be true!  Of course we know that this won't last once they get settled in the Promised Land, but for the moment, Joshua has them eating out of the palm of his hand!

 

     In my years of campus ministry, I sometimes found myself in the position of Joshua!  Students were pulled in all different directions by various "deities" - religious and secular.  The one thing I knew I had to do was what Joshua said:  "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!"  At times the situation amounted to:  Who are you going to believe?  Perhaps this is why the leadership style of a pope or bishop or local pastor is so important.  The message is the message of Christ, but that message can be foiled if the "medium" is not believable.  In that regard, each one of us can say what Joshua said and become the means of evangelization!  AMEN