not too close

Joshua 3:3-5 (JDV)

Joshua 3:3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of Yahveh your God carried by the Levitical priests, you are to break camp and follow it.
Joshua 3:4 But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between yourselves and the ark. Don’t go near it, so that you can see the way to walk, because you haven’t traveled this way before.”
Joshua 3:5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, because Yahveh will do miracles among you tomorrow.”

not too close

The ark was to guide the Israelites so that they could accomplish the mission. But there was the danger of their becoming distracted and narrowly focused by the ark, so Joshua encouraged them to not follow it too closely.

There are elements of religion which have a purpose, and are important, but which can also become means to prevent us from accomplishing our mission. Traditions and pet doctrines can do this. They may not be wrong in themselves, but we have to make sure that we don’t allow them to obscure our vision from the path to our mission — the mission of the whole congregation.

Lord, help us to pursue your mission without becoming distracted, even by good things.