Seeking God for Direction – Day 5

Theme: Seeking God for Direction

(Based on Joshua and the Battle of Jericho)

Friday, January 29 – Day 5 

THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD: (SESSION 9)

Near Jericho, Joshua saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword identifying himself as commander of the Lord’s army. Joshua, recognizing him as a messenger of God, fell face down in reverence. The man of God requested instructions and removed his sandals as Moses had done before. This messenger assured Joshua of victory. The Battle of Jericho is the quintessential Biblical case of winning a battle before even fighting it. Joshua was given ‘a mantle’.

A mantle is a specific assignment for a particular season or era. During his time, Joshua had to take the Promised Land by war. Today, during the Church Age, Christians are required to take the land of God’s kingdom by preaching, teaching, and living “the word”.

The weapons of the world for a scenario like this were battering rams, siege ramps and scaling ladders. Not here! The first weapon to be used in this new season of bloody conquest was an unusual one: ram’s horns blown by seven priests in front of the Ark.

They did this day after day, and on the seventh day, after marching around again, the trumpet was sounded, and the men gave loud shouts as instructed. Joshua had been sure to tell the soldiers to hold their voice, as we hear of officers say to their men “hold your fire”.

Tellingly, the shouting was the fire. Once unleashed, the walls collapsed. Joshua performed all this by following God’s most militarily unorthodox instruction. Seeking God involves being willing to not only hear but to follow His instructions. Those instructions may sound “weird”, foolish even, but we are not asked to understand, just to obey. As we spend time denying our flesh this week, let us ask God for the wisdom to obey HIM even when we don’t understand what HE is doing, and in fact, it seems downright stupid to us. Let us be determined to just obey. Otherwise, all of this will be for nothing. (Read: II Cor. 10:3-6)

WILL GOD BE GLORIFIED IF I GET WHAT I AM SEEKING FOR? – Phil. 4:19(NLT); Rev. 4:11– (SESSION 10)

We are on a quest seeking God’s direction on the way forward in our lives. God gave Joshua specific instructions regarding the walls of Jericho. He followed them and we now know the result of his obedience. But we must admit that sometimes we are so busy deciding what we want in life and how we are going to get it, that even when God is speaking to us, advising or admonishing us, we do not stop long enough to hear what He has to say.

But let us, for a moment, allow our imaginations to run wild. Let us suppose that God in His infinite wisdom decides to give us what we are seeking for this week or maybe, something we have been seeking for over several years. What happens when we get it? Do we throw a party and invite all our friends to come celebrate with us? Do we start announcing how hard and long we have worked for whatever-it-is? Do we spare a thought for those who stood with us, prayed with us, and/or encouraged us the many times when we felt like giving up? Do we pat ourselves on the back or thump our chests and declare how “I” did this or that? Or do we, in humility, declare with Brother Paul “My God has supplied my needs according to His riches in glory”. Then falling to our knees or on our faces, will we declare like John “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor…”?

Let us pause momentarily today, think of the times God has brought us through or over, the battles He has fought and won for us, the deliverances He has given to us, and recall whether His name was glorified through them all. Then, let us think hard and honestly, if God should give me what I am seeking for today, will I just say “Thank You, Jesus” or will I seek for ways to glorify Him with or through it? When I invite others to the celebration, will it be to brag about what I achieved, or will it be to show them what a loving Father I serve and to invite them to “come taste and see that He is a good, good Father?  And please remember, even when He says No, He is still to be glorified.