AWAKE BIBLE IN A YEAR MARCH 19
Read Joshua 3-6
Shout!! Sometimes it’s a holy war cry.
God is wanting to do great things among us! “Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.””
Joshua 3:5 NIV
As I gaze at a holy God I can’t help but become like Jesus. Look up, look to Christ. We eat Christ the bread from heaven and after eating of this meal we’re made like him. And then like Joshua we are called to a table of promised fruit.
The Lord exalts Joshua before everyone. The young man who formerly would not depart from the tent when God came near. He looks like Moses when Moses said to God do not even take us up unless you go with us. Joshua while he is under the authority of Moses has this unusual hunger. Hunger is crucial to starving off complacency and cowardice. Jesus blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness with a promise to be fed. Matt. 5:6
Jesus preaches meekness as the embodiment of meek. Meek ones are the ones blessed to inherit the earth! Joshua must be meek for where he is going. Matt 5:5 The definition of meekness is power under restraint. HUMILITY. NOT PROUD. NOT SELF-SUFFICIENT. NOT PEEVISH. FORBEARANCE UNDER INJURY. GENTLE.
A new generation is about to experience the powerful might of God. The whole nation celebrated the Passover and then the manna stops, because it’s time for fruit. It’s time for harvest.
The Lord says to Joshua in chpt. 5 v. 9, ‘This day I have rolled away the reproach (derision, ridicule) of Egypt from you.’ The next generation will not have the ridicule. The stench of sin from their parents failure is rolled away.
The commander of the army of the LORD has come and Joshua falls face down in reverence. Joshua was all together familiar with the ridicule from their loss and defeat last time they tried to take hold of the promised land. And now with the ridicule gone there is only awe and reverence for the God of Israel.
I marvel what comes first? God draws near and then reverence? Or does reverence come and then God? I do not know…HMMM could it be an infinity loop? But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13
Regardless in Jesus extending himself in absolute love and vulnerability we have been brought near. Insert an inexhaustible array of heart emojis here!
And in this place of encounter Joshua‘s question is answered. Often times when revival comes our questions and even some of the deeper places of our hearts are clarified or healed. Joshua is thinking, hey commander of the army of the Lord are you for me or are you for them? We might ask some of the same questions today —is God for this church or for that church, is God for one political party or another, is God for one nation or another, THIS ANSWER IS, no emphatically no. God is for the kingdom and the purpose of God. And in this declaration there is room for a prostitute to receive a new identity and a place in the house of God, so powerfully she is directly in the lineage of Jesus.
Joel 2:28-29 and Malachi 4:6 are powerful promises of a multi-generational restoration. Christ finished the work needed for full redemption! He has! And HE WILL.
The hearts of the children, and the hearts of the fathers will turn. Jesus is in the work of the restoration of family, and subsequently nations are healed one family relationship at a time. He pours out his Spirit and walls long standing crumble.
We don’t break rank, consider the example of Israel. They were ALL to be silent and remarkably ALL were silent. When all of Israel was instructed shout all shouted. And all entered in.
