War is ugly. The war we read of in Joshua 8 was an annihilation. While a casual reading of this chapter might make us think that God favors the Israelites, the last verse in the chapter paints a different picture.
This verse takes us to the middle of a worship service. Everyone at the worship service follows the Lord. Everyone is standing in the presence of the Lord. And here, at the altar, are the Israelites and foreigners. These foreigners decided to live among the Israelites because they trust the Lord God. There is no difference between men, women, and children, nationals, and foreigners in this worship service. All are equal in the presence of the Lord.
Today, there is so much division in the church on the politics of immigration, race, and gender. But as followers of Jesus Christ, we should remember that we are all equal at the foot of the cross.
