Entry and Jerico (March 25)

Tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.'  For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over.  The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over.  He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.

Now when Joshua was near Jerico, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.  Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"  "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come."  Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"

Then the Lord said to Joshua, March around the city once with all the armed men.  Do this for six days.  Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams horns in front of the ark.  On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.  When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout: then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."
                                 From Joshua 3 - 6 NIV

Entering the promised land on a dry river bed during a flood, what an awesome example of God's power.  How many more examples will the Israelites need to see to believe, to act, to follow the commands and decrees of the Lord?

Joshua sees the Lord, the commander of the army of the Lord, The Lord appears to Joshua as a warrior with a drawn sword.  This appearance prompts Joshua to reverence.  The Lord shows himself as a commander of warriors.  The Lord in a sense is showing himself in a way that meets a need.  Joshua will be fighting many battles soon, a commander of warriors is a vision that may strengthen and encourage Joshua.

God's battle plan here, for Jerico, is very different than a plan that a human commander might develop.  Remember...God's will, not my will.  God has a perfect plan that will bring glory to him and not to man.

Is there anything that you need to 'see' to understand that God is in control and has developed a perfect plan for your life?

How have you seen Jesus provide for you in different ways in different times of your life?

Pray to see God at work in your life.

In Christ,

David P