The steady, unrelenting approach of Him

Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to Him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” Joshua 7:19

We cannot hide from the LORD God.

And His love will stop at nothing to bring us to repentance.

Confession is an act of worship, acknowledging that He is God and I most certainly am not.

And even under the pressure of leading a tumultuous multitude in conquering the Promised Land after an unexpected loss, and even though the consequences were fierce, Joshua was able to approach the thief with kindness, and tenderly call him “my son.”

This moment, the stoning of Achan and his daughters and his animals, is hard. But a clear picture of not to mess with the Living God who detests sin. Yet while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, taking this holy reconciliation upon Himself.

Yesterday I read aloud to my class my selected monologue from Lewis, modeling proper tone and pause and poise, “who can duly adore that Love which will open the high gates to a prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape? The words compelle intrare, compel them to come in, have been so abused by wicked men that we shudder at them; but, properly understood, they plumb the depth of the Divine mercy. The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of man, and His compulsion is our liberation.”

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on him was laid.

Amen.

Free, free indeed.