[A Meditation on One Verse]

(Joshua 9:27) “That day Joshua made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.”

We often casually pass over this verse as a scene where the Gibeonites are punished for their lie. However, this verse reveals how the ‘mystery of salvation’ is accomplished.

How were the Gibeonites, who deserved to be destroyed, saved? It began with the spiritual eyes to recognize God. Leaving behind the fact that they had large cities and were mighty warriors (10:2), they knew that their only path to survival was to kneel before the God who was with Israel. Their wisdom was not to draw the sword, but to bend the knee.

The task given to them, who had so desperately entered into the covenant, was to cut wood and draw water for ‘the altar of the LORD.’ In human eyes, it was menial labor, but in spiritual eyes, it was an unimaginable privilege. They, who were objects of destruction, became servants at the very altar where God’s presence dwelled. From a place of curse to servants of the altar, their status was completely changed.

This is our story. When we, who were under wrath, knelt before the Lord, He made us His ‘royal priesthood.’ For us today, ‘serving the altar of the LORD’ is to worship Him. It is a worship of trusting the Lord completely in all moments of life and rejoicing in Him alone as our Savior. And so, we begin the day with this prayer:

”Lord, today, in all the places of life given to me, help me to worship You alone.”

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[Daily Reading]

– Joshua 9:18-10:5