The Humble Request
“give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done” Joshua 7:19 NASB
Now – What’s wrong about this translation is so tiny that it seems to make no difference. In fact, the NIV doesn’t even include the word in question. Neither does the KJ version. But it’s there and God put it there so we better pay attention. The word is na, a two consonant addition to the verb “tell”. NASB gives us “now”, but na is not “now”. In this context, it’s please. In the context of a request, it is the signature of tenderness. Even God uses it.
The right translation, please, is so important. It is simply unacceptable to leave it out. That changes the whole emotional setting of Joshua’s request. “Tell me!” is not the same as “Please, tell me.” And “Tell me now!” misses the mark too. Joshua is speaking to a beloved son. His concern is immense. He asks for confession, a confession that may have dire consequences. But he knows that confession honors God, so he must ask, with careful respect, acknowledging his own sinful status before a holy God. Na is a word that asks the sinner to grant permission to hear his confession. It is a word of identity with the guilty. It is a word that invokes my humility. “Except for the grace of God, I would be the one confessing and you would be the one asking to listen.”
We all know this difference. We know what it is like to be badgered into confession, laden with guilt and shame, forced into humiliation while our tormentors stand in righteous indignation over us. But the confession that begins with na is entirely different. This is confession that weeps with the sinner, that pours out brokenness together, that would take on the burden if possible. This is confession at the foot of the cross. It would not surprise me to have heard Jesus says, “Father, please, forgiven them.”
Confession is a requirement of life with God. It is the hallmark of worship, the identification of the saints, the first fruit of spiritual consciousness. For everyone who experiences true confession, there is always a na in the air.
