Joshua 1:12-18: a reflection

As Israel prepares to enter the promised land, the tribes who had already received their land on the near side of the Jordan are reminded of their commitment: they must not simply settle down in their own rest while their brothers still had to fight for theirs, but must cross over armed and help them until they too found rest. You shall pass over before your brothers armed, Joshua says, and help them, until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you. These tribes already had their land, their rest; they could have stayed home. But they were called to help their brothers to their rest before settling into their own. They would not rest fully while their brothers still struggled. This shows a good pattern: not settling into our own security while others still need help, but helping them to theirs. Do not settle into your own rest while others still struggle. Help your brothers to their rest before settling into yours. Those with rest were called to help others find theirs. Bear others' struggle, not settling alone while they strive.

Notice the call to these tribes. They had already received their inheritance, their rest, on the near side of the Jordan; their part was, in a sense, secured. They could have said, we have ours, let the others fight for theirs. But they were called instead to cross over, armed, and help their brothers fight for their inheritance, not returning to their own rest until their brothers also had rest. They would not settle into their own security while their brothers still struggled. This is a good pattern for us. We can be tempted, once our own needs are met, our own security gained, to settle down and leave others to their struggles: we have ours, let them see to theirs. But we are called to bear one another's burdens, to help others toward their rest and not only enjoy our own. Having received, we are to help others receive; having found rest, to help others to theirs. To help others to their rest rather than settling alone into ours is the way of love. We are called to help others, not just enjoy our own security. Bear your brothers' struggle; do not settle alone while they strive. Having our own rest, we help others to theirs.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called not to settle into our own security while others still struggle, but to help them to their rest, as the tribes with land were called to help their brothers gain theirs. We can be tempted, once our own needs are met, to settle down and leave others to their struggles; but the tribes who already had their rest were called to cross over armed and help their brothers until they too had rest. Having received, we help others receive. Do not settle alone into your own security while others still need help; help them to their rest, as these tribes helped their brothers. Do not settle into your own security and rest while others still struggle, but help them toward theirs, as the tribes who had already received their land on the near side of the Jordan were called not to stay home in their own rest but to cross over armed before their brothers and help them fight for their inheritance until the LORD had given their brothers rest as he had given them; for we can be tempted, once our own needs are met and our own security gained, to settle down and leave others to their struggles, saying we have ours and letting them see to theirs, but we are called to bear one another's burdens, to help others toward their rest and not only enjoy our own, so that having received we help others receive, and having found rest we help others to theirs, rather than settling alone into our security while our brothers still strive.