“You and I, we’re on this journey, see?” His no-smile stare shows his serious side. “We’re wandering in this wilderness between captivity and the Promised Land, just like the Children of Israel in the Bible. We find ourselves in our own Battle of Jericho, patiently following God, so He wins the battles for us.” A shoulder shrug suggests maybe that feels too easy or something.

“We win the victory. We take no prisoners, just like He says.” Suddenly, he turns and looks straight through me. “That’s when the temptations slam us!”

“There I was, feeling like the conqueror, tired, but happy. And then, I looked around at all the nice stuff I could have. I got me some spoils. I like my trinkets and goods and money and stuff.” He stops, leans against a handy tree, and starts to cry softly.

“I just didn’t listen when God said, ‘In this battle, take no spoils.’ I took ‘em anyway. I feel like dying!”

“It’s no fun to not please God. I feel like that guy Achan in the story in Joshua, except he faced his judgment right then and there.” We start to walk again. “Why is it so hard to just listen to God, and then do what he says? Why does it seem so easy to want to do it my way?”

He falls silent for a ways.

A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “God’s grace is all we have to fall back on, always. Jesus, dying for me means I don’t have to get burned out like Achan did. He didn’t make it to the Promised Land, but God says I will. It’s all because of Jesus!” He jumps a little jig in the air. “I can shake it off and just keep walkin’. Praise God!”

He chuckles. “Promised Land, here I come!”

 

 

 

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