Last month we considered the need for patience in relation to God’s promises. This month I would like an answer to this strange statement in Joshua 24 verse 4, “To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave Mount Seir to possess it; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.” I searched a number of commentaries without finding much insight into this puzzling statement. After all, Esau was emblematic of someone born outside of the covenant – an unbeliever. Jacob was Isaac’s son who God ‘loved’ and Esau was the Isaac’s son God ‘hated’ (Romans 9:8-13). Why then does Joshua say that God gave Esau a possession (Mt Seir) and sent Jacob and his sons to poverty and enslavement with misery into Egypt? I thought Dale Ralph Davis had the best take on this verse so I give to you the following section taken out of his book, ‘No Falling Words’ (Baker Books Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1988).
“Why do the covenant people experience hardship and slavery while others have their reward? Why do God’s chosen ones experience the affliction while others enjoy their good things? See how Scripture recognized this mystery, that God’s people so often have to wait in great distress for God’s promised blessing?
This total candor of Scripture about the life of faith is so refreshing. Hebrews 11:32-39 illustrates this perfectly. That writer makes no bones about the astounding benefits God gives to faith: his people conquered kingdoms, shut lions’ mouths, escaped the sword, routed alien armies, observed resurrections (Hebrews 11:32-35a). Now that is the victorious Christian life! That’s what God does for his people who believe! Yet the writer continues with nary a semicolon “Others were tortured … some faced jeers and floggings … they were stoned; they were sawed in two … put to death by the sword … went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated … thy wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground” (Hebrews 11:35b-38 NIV). That’s what God does for his people who believe. Thus the writer makes no bones about the strange hardships God allows to faith. Is that the “victorious Christian life”? Who knows? But it’s as much the Christian life as conquering kingdoms and muzzling lions.
My point is that neither Scripture nor God speaking in Scripture glosses over this mystery. Back to Joshua 24:4. Even in this overall survey of Yahweh’s goodness to Israel we find this mystery. Esau received his possession; Jacob and his family went down to Egypt. The mystery must be seen both in and in light of the whole story. Weeping may endure for the night (Psalm 30:4-5).
There is no use in kicking at this mystery, but the mystery itself should lead us to adore our God. Why? Because when he rehearses the story of his grace he doesn’t hide the (to us) rough spots; he doesn’t gloss over the perplexities; he doesn’t omit the difficulties. He never erases the mysteries or dark times from the record. My point is, you can trust a God like that. Here is a straightforward, honest God.
One reason why I believe the New Testament record of the resurrection of Jesus is because Matthew’s Gospel contains three words in relating the disciples’ meeting with the risen Lord in Galilee: “But some doubted” (Matthew 28:17). Someone might ask, “How can hearing of their doubt support your faith?” Simply because it tells me that the writer has nothing to hide. If Matthew was trying to feed me theological baloney he would have suppressed mention of anyone – especially among Jesus’ followers – doubting Jesus and his resurrection. The fact that he so candidly and openly notes it tells me that Matthew has nothing to hide, no secrets to keep; I can trust a man like that to tell me the truth.
And such is our God. He is kind enough to show us plainly that within the story of his grace we may meet with darkness. Not that we will relish the darkness. But a God that is truthful can be trusted to hold us in the darkness”
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