At the present time, we are under the illusion that our country is invincible and will always have the ability to successfully fight off those who might want to subjugate our nation and our way of life. However, history has shown that all nations will eventually come to an end. So, as hard as that is for us to contemplate, let us imagine what it might be like after the United States has been overwhelmed by another world power.
What would it be like to be ruled by an alien culture who would naturally favor those who were ethnically similar to themselves and at the same time treat the rest of us as a lower class of peoples? Although our present legal system seems to favor the rights of the guilty, imagine having an enemy conqueror impose its legal system onto us with no consideration at all for the Ten Commandments. Undoubtedly, the conquerors would also be prejudiced for their own citizens and against those whom they saw as the conquered. It is not hard to imagine that we would be placed on a different legal standing with less rights than those who had aligned themselves with the foreign invaders. We might be taxed at a higher rate; perhaps we would not be allowed to have a voice in politics. Perhaps our religion would be outlawed at worst, or tolerated at best, depending on the mood of the ruling powers. Imagine having our children brought up in a culture where biblical values are laughed at, while at the same time, ideas and customs that are disgusting and vile are elevated to high culture. Imagine being forced to watch our children being taught that wrong is right and that the things of Scripture, things that are right and proper, are offensive and harmful.
Now being in this situation, knowing that the Scriptures teach the promises of a 'Land', and reading the Book of Joshua, what might you conclude about the promised Redeemer? You would probably be thinking and hoping that the Lord would send another Joshua-like figure to set things right. You would be expecting a Redeemer who would save your nation from all the above abuses and offenses against God's holy law. You would be looking for the Warrior-King who comes in wrath and judgment to defeat the enemies of the faith and who would deliver His people to the Promised Land.
Consider this: Our wishful desires may lead us to misunderstand what the scripture is teaching. I know that in Sunday School you might have been taught that those who at first rejected Christ Jesus, those who misunderstood Jesus' ministry, were terrible people. They were not so much unlike ourselves! Their thinking may have been influenced by a sincere desire to see their nation restored. Our little imaginary scenario, where the United States is defeated and dominated by an alien nation, is the same situation that the Jews of Jesus' time were experiencing. It is only natural that we read the Bible with our own individual situations in mind. However, if we are not cautious we also may project our desires onto the meaning of scripture. The classic example, of course, are these Jews who were experiencing national disgrace and daily exposure to the excesses of a debased Roman culture. Perhaps they were sincere in their desire to see godliness and holy worship, but they missed the nature and purpose of Christ's incarnation. We know that the Old Testament scripture gave hints about the nature of Jesus’ advent, and we know there were some Jews who properly understood this 'suffering servant' aspect of the Messiah. New Covenant believers joyously expect Christ to come as a Warrior-King, but we also understand that to be a future event.
We agree that in God's providence the rejection of the Jews was part of the plan of redemption. God used their sin for His glory and the good of all His people. All those who reject Christ are responsible for their rejection, whether they be the Jews of Jesus' time or our contemporaries who also reject the biblical Jesus. For some of those ancient Jews, their rejection was based on a powerful desire to squeeze the book of Joshua to fit their own desires.
There is the caution here for believers; though we do not reject the biblical Jesus Christ, in our weaker moments, we may still wrongfully twist scripture to fit our desires. The remedy for us is twofold.
First, we should carefully use proper rules for biblical interpretation - we want to find the true meaning of scripture. By putting some distance between our desires and the study of scripture we may avoid our tendency to manipulate scripture to fit our desires. I would guess that the worst thing I have ever done in this regard is to decide what I want to do and then look for the scripture that allows me to do that very thing. Our desires are only proper when they are in agreement with scripture, and conversely, scripture is never validated by how we 'feel' about it!
Secondly, we prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit's guidance in revealing the true meaning of scripture. A proper understanding of our struggle with remaining sin helps us to understand that our heart's desire may miss the mark of scripture. We also pray for godly men to teach and preach as we pray that our hearts' desires will be conformed to the scriptures.
May the Lord grant us a hunger for the Word and the ability to patiently search the scriptures. May the Lord graciously give us godly men called to study and preach the Word.
Robin
