“Marching Orders” (Part I)

SCRIPTURE:  “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”  (Joshua 5:14b)  NKJV
Joshua, being met by the Commander of the Lord’s army in Joshua 5:13-15, was given a foundational marching order—to remove his sandal, for he was standing on holy ground!  He was directed to acknowledge where he was –a divine command requiring immediate obedience and worship!  That command was followed by additional specific instructions, which if obeyed, would deliver the Israelites to their God-appointed destination.  This Commander—believed by many Bible scholars to be the pre-incarnate Christ-- reminded Joshua that their enemy beyond the walls of Jericho was ALREADY defeated, had ALREADY been conquered! While our opponents today are more often spiritual in nature rather than militaristic, that passage reminds me of the encouragement to be found in 2 Corinthians 2:14—“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ,….”
     
Then He gave them their marching orders—very detailed orders-- I might add.  Isn’t that just like our Savior God?—the same yesterday, today, and forever! He gives us numerous detailed instructions in His Word of how we are to daily conduct ourselves; He has strong sovereign purposes for every precept, every command; and we do well to take heed, no matter how intensely our “flesh” may sometimes bristle at yielding!  We may not always find our Lord’s commands immediately palatable, and yet, in time, if we are obedient, we discover that our heavenly Father truly does know what’s best, and we are blessed in the process! 
  
 Praise our God, who has not left us here to figure out on our own how to successfully “do life.”  His precepts never grow outdated, as those who are everything BUT “woke” and do NOT know Christ are prone to declare.

Prayer:  Blessings to You, Abba, for revealing Your holiness, Your character, and Your matchless love and grace to us!  May we hold to Your ways, no matter the challenges or opposition, within and without, that we encounter each day.  Victory is ours in Christ!  In His name, we thank You; amen!!

(By Sis. Denise Diggs)