We
have so many ways of saying that someone is dead without saying that they are
dead. We speak about someone “passing” as though they were a carton of milk
past its expiration date. We say they have “gone” as though they were down at
the corner store picking up a couple of forgotten items. People go to be with
the LORD, aren’t here anymore, pass away, go fishing, cash in their chips, go
home, depart, get called home, leave this world, lose the battle, and slip
away. Each of these and many more are intended to ease the pain and hide the
reality. The person is dead. If you want to read more, look here.
The
problem with these kinds of phrases is that they aren’t helpful to the grieving
family. They know they are dead. They know they aren’t expired. The truth hurts
less than confusion. The straight forward truth helps with the grieving
process. It removes questions. It settles the issue. Words can hide the
reality, and when death happens, reality is what people need in order to make
it through.
As
leadership changes in the fledgling nation of Israel, truth is of primary
importance. Their beloved leader is dead. Moses has completed his work and
won’t get the opportunity to walk into the Promised Land himself. This is due
to his disobedience.
But
Joshua still feels inadequate. How do I know this? The has to repeatedly
reassure him, telling him to be strong and courageous. But he also needs to
know in no uncertain terms that the old leadership is gone. He doesn’t have
Moses to turn to now. He must step up, be the leader the LORD has called him to
be, and draw on the strength his relationship with the LORD will provide.
The
harsh reality of Moses’ death is put right on the table, right up front. And
this confirmation of Moses’ death also serves to tie this book with the
previous book in the Scriptures. Deuteronomy ended with Moses’ death. The book
of Joshua begins right were Deuteronomy ended. Moses is dead.
Many
transitions in life happen abruptly, suddenly. Moses’ death was expected. The
LORD had told them that he would die, that he would not enter the Promised Land.
All the more reason to tell the truth of death in a straight forward manner.
There can be no wiggle room for alternative meanings. And it is these
alternative meanings that perhaps soften the blow, but they can leave the
person wondering if the death is true.
When
the military show up at a family’s door with the bad news that a loved one is
dead, they are very straight forward. They tell them that their soldier is
dead. Often we say they died in combat. They always tell the truth even when
they don’t yet know the details. Dead is dead. The family will wonder about the
details, but they must not be left hanging about the reality of the death.
There are too many decisions to be made that require that they know the
reality.
We
all need people who will tell us the truth, even when it hurts. But the truth
spoken that these moments, spoken without ambiguity, is the kindness thing that
can be done.