Joshua 5:10-12
“And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.” (Joshua 5:10)
Exactly forty one years from the day they had eaten the first Passover in Egypt, described in Exodus 12, Israel celebrated their first Passover in Canaan, just four days after crossing the Jordan and circumcising the males.
“And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” (Joshua 5:11-12)
For forty year, Israel had grumbled about having nothing but manna to eat, even though it supplied all their physical needs. The very next day after celebrating the Passover, they were able to get enough grain to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread. The second day of the feast of unleavened bread, there wasn’t any manna, and it never came again. If they had obeyed God in Numbers 13 and 14, they wouldn’t have had to eat manna all those years.
How many Christians have spent most of their Christian lives dissatisfied, although God has always supplied the essentials, simply because they have never been willing to obey him?
Recognizing God
Joshua 5:13-15
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?” (Joshua 5:13-14)
God does not change. He doesn’t switch sides because we bribed him or talked him into it. When Joshua asked the man(angel) whether he was on Israel’s or the Amorite’s side, he answered neither one. He was on God’s side. Too often we spend our effort trying to get God on our side, instead of getting ourselves on his side, even though we are told repeatedly that God does not play favorites. Romans 2:11 is very succinct, “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
Understanding that it is not about us, but about God will have a definite impact on our spiritual life. When Joshua heard what the man said, he stopped to ask what God had to say instead of asking God for what he wanted.
“And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:15)
What God wanted was for Joshua to recognize him as God. It is something we humans to often fail to recognize.
“And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.” (Joshua 5:10)
Exactly forty one years from the day they had eaten the first Passover in Egypt, described in Exodus 12, Israel celebrated their first Passover in Canaan, just four days after crossing the Jordan and circumcising the males.
“And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” (Joshua 5:11-12)
For forty year, Israel had grumbled about having nothing but manna to eat, even though it supplied all their physical needs. The very next day after celebrating the Passover, they were able to get enough grain to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread. The second day of the feast of unleavened bread, there wasn’t any manna, and it never came again. If they had obeyed God in Numbers 13 and 14, they wouldn’t have had to eat manna all those years.
How many Christians have spent most of their Christian lives dissatisfied, although God has always supplied the essentials, simply because they have never been willing to obey him?
Recognizing God
Joshua 5:13-15
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?” (Joshua 5:13-14)
God does not change. He doesn’t switch sides because we bribed him or talked him into it. When Joshua asked the man(angel) whether he was on Israel’s or the Amorite’s side, he answered neither one. He was on God’s side. Too often we spend our effort trying to get God on our side, instead of getting ourselves on his side, even though we are told repeatedly that God does not play favorites. Romans 2:11 is very succinct, “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
Understanding that it is not about us, but about God will have a definite impact on our spiritual life. When Joshua heard what the man said, he stopped to ask what God had to say instead of asking God for what he wanted.
“And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:15)
What God wanted was for Joshua to recognize him as God. It is something we humans to often fail to recognize.
Excellent Bible-based post! Realizing that "it is not about us, but about God" will give us the peace that passes understanding, the joy of being in His perfect will, and rewards to enjoy throughout eternity.
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
Laurie
Living on the bare essentials is more than we often deserve. The manna represents God's faithfulness toward wayward children, and Canaan's fullness represents the bounty He can and will give those who seek His will above their own.
ReplyDeleteGod's provision in either case always comforts me.
Thanks for the post.