Minimalism leaves us with nothing

The minimalist position is one of the most popular among atheists and agnostics because in many ways it undermines the validity of the biblical text. Despite our best efforts there is not a lot of corroborating evidence with the text’s historicity. An exiled people cannot take everything for their journey which takes them the 400 miles to Babylon so they most certainly took the texts that mattered most to them. They probably left behind objective histories because the scrolls that would later become the Old Testament already contained the stories. Furthermore they understood that history for the masses is best kept in stories, legends, and narrative than in objective facts which bore most people.  The predisposition of denying anything without scientific evidence is alluring for those who put their faith in man, but science is not the only norm for truth. Not only does the biblical text tell us the beliefs of the Israelites, but it also tells us their stories of their origins. Operating with the starting position that the biblical text is pure myth does not take into account the consequences of that position. By presuming our ancestors are ignorant of reason we fail to realize the persistence of the faith of both the Jews and Christians threw centuries of fierce challenge must give validity to its possibility. Once denial of historical documents begins it carries forward with a denial of everything.

The Unconvential God

Seizing a city is normally done by overpowering it. The Art of War advises a 20 to 1 advantage before you go to war. But Israel never knew this advantage because Egypt and Mesopotamia had far greater numbers and resources available to wage war.  Thankfully for Israel God is not one to use conventional means or wisdom. Instead of using military might to bring down the walls he uses marching around Jericho for seven days to break down the walls.  Israel never defeats an enemy in the old testament with overwhelming force, but instead uses tactics and unconventional weaponry. We see Gideon reflect this when he takes the 300 worst -able men for war and has breaking jars and lighting candles to send the enemy into a panic. Samson could be argued an exception, but he is still only one man. Besides how many people use a jawbone to fight. David shows us the ultimate example of mind over matter when he slays Goliath with a sling. This theme really starts with Jacob who tricks his stronger brother out of the inheritance and concludes with Solomon who uses economics to build the biggest of Israel’s empire.  God’s unconventional approach is certainly a true product of the human condition.  Thinking outside the box almost always leads us to better solutions than staying within. Perhaps the unconventional bent of Israel is one of the reasons they are still in existence today.

God as a Warrior(Joshua

Reading the history of the book of Joshua is not like reading a history textbook because its itself a historical document. As such the misunderstanding of its need for empirical data and accuracy leads to people calling the bible fiction. However if we understand the text to be not only a historical account, but a cultural account and theological account. We can see the themes in Joshua that rise to the surface. 

One Joshua clearly dictates absolute obedience. When the text says do not turn to the right or left, it leaves no room for deviation.  The stoning of Achan demonstrates how absolute obedience must be because it costs an entire family their lives. The loss to Ai shows even further how serious God is about absolute obedience by showing God's willingness to let his people die for disobedience.

Two God is not pacifist. While he does love Peace at times he also is clearly unopposed to a just war. Numerous times God commands the annihilation of the Canaanites. One way I see to reconcile Joshua God and New Testament views is  by using the imagery of Christus Victor to substantiate his symbol of power.

Three God pays attention to the details. Even the land is divided up amongst the tribes with precision. Israel is very precise in wiping out Jordan while sparing Rahab. There March is precise. The crossing of the Jordan is precise.

It is clear throughout the text that God is more the Chapter 1 Genesis type than the Chapter 2 Genesis type. God fights too.

Don't Turn to the Right or Left

The repetition of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy gives added significance to the document because repetition is often used in the text to indicate intensity. It is clear these commandments are the path Hebrew behavior is to follow with no deviation. The key phrase “don't turn to the right or left” leaves these laws without exception. However it is important to remember these commandments are more like the constitution than a religious prescription. This is a national leader giving a political speech not just a preacher preaching a sermon. Because of that it is clear that these commandments were centerpiece to the culture of Israel. A politician must always appeal to the embedded theology of or they won't be in office for long.  

As we draw a close on the Torah it must be stated this is not a primarily religious text, but an ethnic text about the development, history, mythology, customs, and faith practices that define its people. We see in the early texts a history on which the more prescriptive texts are built. To take the Torah and apply it as a prescription on our nation is to misapply it. While the Ten Commandments do have their merit as some are acknowledged by Jesus we must be careful to prescribe all the regulations some of which are national identity markers as musts in the Christian faith. Using passages to forbid tattoos and to force women to wear pants betrays the texts historical context. We must remember the Torah is primarily the story and law of a nation and not the laws of our own.  

God intervenes on behalf of his people

We see in the Balaam story that God intervenes on behalf of Israel. Balak the wicked king plans to strike down Israel and yet again God rescues his people from the grasp of a wicked king. This istheme echoed in Exodus with Pharaoh because it's an assertion of God being greater than other gods. He can defeat the God's of Balak and Egypt. This amazing demonstration ensures us that today as Christians we follow a God bigger than any ruler, nation, or kingdom. Because if God is able to intercede on behalf of Israel and stop Balak’s plan then he is certainly big enough to take care of us.

Another obvious part of the story is God uses a donkey to make some statements. One is that God is sovereign over all creation. Meaning he is the God of the animals and the God of the people. He has the power to grant voice to animals and stop prophets dead in their tracks with them.

Number also illustrates the reality of Israel being a nation. They have laws for all kinds of crazy things. Probably like us many were in response to difficult situations. This nation wrestled with their identity because they were pressed by their neighbors to adopt the practices of those nations, but somehow through it all their faith outlasted all. Even the religions of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia are gone, but the religion of the Israelites lives on. This torah is not just an ancient document it is a document that is still read and used today. This historical fact shows the power of God outlasts the power of man.

The Patriarchal Cycle

Genesis 12-36 has a rhythm to it that reflects what some may call the circle of life. It seems in every generation there is a difficult split between family members. We have Lot and Abraham split leading to Lot's time of need. We have Ishmael and Issac split because of Sarah abusing Ishmael and his mother. Leading to Ishmael's time of need. We even have Esau and Jacob splitting due to Rebekah's deception, but in each instance God still blessed both sides. In the Lot story and Esau story we see reconciliation while in the Ishmael story we see promise. And in all these situations, God allows people to be people still blessing them all the while.

God's use of broken people to establish his kingdom contrasts our idea of heroes, because in the midst of these texts we find ordinary people used for an extraordinary purpose. I suspect the writers of Genesis longed to bring hope to people that God was in control and even though they may have just been exiled. That out of this God would bring something even better.

To me Genesis communicates God permits our human fraility and God uses ordinary people to build extraordinary nations. In my estimation Genesis is one of the best accounts of God’s mercy ever uttered. If this was a Sims game most of us would have hit the reset button in the 1^st chapter.