Earlier this month we celebrated Veterans Day. Memorial Day honors those who died in military service, and Armed Forces Day is another day in May when Americans honor those who currently serve. Veterans Day, however, honors all who have ever served in the American military, living and dead.
Honoring those who have served or have sent their family members to serve is appropriate. Remembering the soldier’s service to our nation should challenge us to appreciate our freedoms and take advantage of our liberty to worship and work as God would have us to. Perhaps you have a family member who fought for this country. He or she may have memories which haunt every day.
God instructed the Israelite nation in Old Testament days to establish memorials to celebrate God’s victories. Whether it was a pile of stones or the institution of a special day, God’s people regularly celebrated God’s work on their behalf. We read praise of specific people performing specific deeds, but the memorials were created to celebrate divine deliverance.
Moses encouraged the Israelite nation in Deuteronomy 20:1-4 and again in Deuteronomy 31:6 to have courage because God was with them. The LORD instructed Joshua repeatedly in Joshua 1 to have courage because God was with him. That presence of the LORD, however, required something of Joshua and his people. We read, “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. . . . This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success”(Joshua 1:7-8). The Israelites did not always win. When sin was in their camp or when they were not seeking God’s face, they lost battles. When they read the Law, however, and shared it with one another regularly and meditated on it and obeyed it, they had God’s blessing.
Correct Bible interpretation requires us to recognize that these Old Testament promises were not made to us. However, the God who was with Moses and Joshua is the same God who is with us. The God who parted the Red Sea for Israelites to cross on dry land and then sent the waves crashing over the Egyptians who followed them is our God. The God who felled the walls of Jericho after the Israelites obeyed is our God.
In this season of thanksgiving, be thankful for the veterans. If you’ve never read or listened to a veteran relate experiences of war, look for an opportunity to ask a veteran about his/her service over the next few weeks of family gatherings. Taking the time and heart to do so shows respect, and you’ll be deeper and better because of it. Taking the time and heart to learn more about your God evidences respect, as well; and you’ll definitely be deeper and better for doing so.