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Sep 05, 2022 18:30pm

The Show Must Go On

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It was finally the night. We had worked on the set, designed our costumes, poured over our lines and practiced for hours. It was show time.

The gym was packed with family and friends, teachers and coaches, and community members. I remember thinking how I couldn’t believe the bleachers could hold that many people.

We took our places and the opening scene began. It wasn’t too long into the play when it was my turn to become part of the dialogue. I joined the other cast members on stage. I was just waiting for my turn. Elizabeth said her lines. Josh then said his. And then we all just stared at each other.

I knew I was supposed to go after someone… who was it?

The silence was deafening.

Was it me? Was I supposed to be saying my lines right now? They didn’t fit here, did they?

Under someone’s breath I could hear, “Just say something”.

Our eyes darted back and forth, accusing one another of the mistake, until someone finally broke the silence and just said the next line. We had skipped almost a whole page of dialogue, but the mess-up had been made. There was no turning back. We had to pick up and get on with it. As they say, the show must go on!

Joshua made a mistake. Without consulting the Lord, he made the decision to make a covenant with the two strangers. As the truth was revealed that they were actually people from Gibeon, a neighboring city that the Israelites were supposed to destroy, Joshua recognized his mess up. But there was no turning back. They had to pick up and get on with it. As they say, the show must go on.

And the Lord’s will was still accomplished.

“Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them; That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.” (Joshua 10:1-2)

10 kings were gathered together to wage war on Gibeon because they had made peace with Israel. That seems a little extreme. Why would you need that many men?

When the men of Gibeon found out about the coming attack, they pleaded with Joshua for help. Technically, this wasn’t the Israelites’ fight. Joshua could have gone back on his word and said no. But instead, he honored the covenant he had made in the Lord’s name and joined their side.

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.” (Joshua 10:8)

The show must go on.

Even though Joshua had made a terrible judgment call, the mistake would not keep the will of God from being accomplished. He had given them a charge to destroy all the inhabitants and cities of the pagan people in the land He had promised them. Even though Joshua messed up, God still continued with His plan. And it was even greater than Joshua could have imagined. Instead of him seeking out every king of these nations, God brought all 10 to him.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isaiah 46:9-11)

God’s will is done. No matter what we do to mess it up, it will still be accomplished. His counsel shall stand. He purposed it, He will do it.

Are you struggling with a mistake? Remember, you are not that great to have messed up the Lord’s plan. His will stands firm and will be accomplished. Confess and repent of your mistake and get back in there.

The show must go on.