Long Story Short | The Land 6.27.25

 
 

Continuing the Conversation from Sunday

Message Recap

This week we stepped into the story of Joshua—the moment where Israel, after decades of wandering, finally approaches the land God had promised. But instead of a triumphant homecoming, the story is full of tension. There’s fear. Uncertainty. And violence—lots of it.

We explored how Jesus offers a new reading of this story. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus walks the same path Israel once did—through the wilderness and the Jordan River—but instead of conquering Canaanites, He heals them. Jesus doesn’t wage war in the name of God—He reveals what God is actually like.

Through that lens, we came back to the story of Joshua not as a manual for conquest but as devotional literature—a story about courage, trust, and learning to move forward even when we’re afraid. Real courage, we said, isn’t about bravado. It’s about the condition of the heart—and learning to steady our hearts in the presence of God.

Go a Little Deeper

In his commentary on Joshua, theologian Walter Brueggemann suggests that the conquest narrative is less about a divine military campaign and more about Israel’s deep need to imagine a future after wilderness. For a people who had been wandering, displaced, and uncertain, the land represented more than geography—it symbolized identity, belonging, and hope.

But Brueggemann also warns us to pay attention to the ways Scripture holds tension between the text as it is and the God we meet in Jesus. He writes:

“The Bible does not flinch from Israel’s deep fears or desires, but it also keeps opening up space for reinterpretation—for the reader to see that God’s purposes are never fully exhausted by the first telling.”

Joshua 1–3 is a story of courage, but not just battlefield courage. It's the courage to trust a promise. To move forward even when the waters haven’t parted yet. To believe that God can bring life out of wilderness.

Jesus steps into that very story and rewrites it—not with swords and walls falling down, but with compassion, mercy, and the healing of a Canaanite woman. It’s a reminder that we are called not just to read the story—but to live in light of its most faithful retelling.

Conversation Questions

  • What stood out to you from the message or the story of Joshua 1–3?

  • Brueggemann says the land symbolized identity and hope. What places have symbolized that for you?

  • When have you felt like you were on the edge of something—unsure whether to step forward or hold back?

  • The message said courage is a heart thing. What practices help steady your heart when life feels unsteady?

  • What does it mean to you to read the Bible through the lens of Jesus?

  • Is there a step you sense God calling you to take—even if it feels risky?

A Prayer to Pray

Use this as a simple way to pray throughout the week. You can repeat it silently while walking, sitting in silence, or facing a moment of fear or decision:

Breathe in: Be strong and courageous.
Breathe out: For you are not alone.

Breathe in: Do not be afraid.
Breathe out: God is with you.

Breathe in: Even here.
Breathe out: Even now.

Amen.

A Practice to Try

This week, identify one area of your life that feels stuck—or scary.
Before trying to fix or figure it all out, try this:
Sit in silence for 3–5 minutes each day.
Breathe slowly.
Then pray this simple line:
“God, I don’t know what’s next. But I trust that You are with me.”

Write down what comes up. Notice your fears—and where trust is beginning to take root.

Watch Full Message Here:

 




Emmaus Church