On the day the LORD gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the LORD in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the LORD answered such a prayer. Surely the LORD fought for Israel that day! [Joshua 10.12-14]
Joshua certainly had a lot of confidence to go to God with his request. That confidence was two-fold: first, in his role as commander of the LORD's army, and secondly, that the LORD would even do such a thing!
Herein lies a secret that today's Church needs to learn!
From the time of this prayer of Joshua and response by God forward (Joshua 10 through Joshua 12.6 - today's One Year Chronological Bible reading), Israel went on a series of military campaigns that wiped out many of the inhabitants of Canaan. These were not marginal victories either - Israel completely annihilated the groups mentioned in today's reading!
This all came on the heels of a tragedy though... remember the defeat at Ai?
As the story goes, Israel started off good, but, "sin entered the camp" (situation with Achan) and the story looked like it would go the other way. But Israel repented, got rid of the sin, and today's OYCB reading tells the rest of the story!
So, what is the secret that today's Church needs to learn and learn well?
Like Joshua, we are called to a task:
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations... [Matthew 28.19a]
We need to be confident in this task! We need to KNOW that is our role and walk in it!
Like Joshua, we have a God unlimited even by His own laws of nature. His Son has claimed what He would do on our behalf:
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [Matthew 28.18] And... And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.20b]
Jesus gave us the same commission He Himself had been walking in! Jesus had "walked it out" in front of His followers for three years to show them what it would and should look like!
The miracle of the sun and moon standing still was God's way of kick-starting the miraculous military victories that would follow. The miracle of Jesus rising from the dead was His way of kick-starting the miraculous establishment of the Kingdom of God (the changing of men's hearts) in the earth.
But first, is there "sin in the camp?" Let us not forget that Israel's victories (recorded in Joshua 10-12) came on the heels of repentance and purification of themselves!
(How do we know if there is "sin in the camp?" That was yesterday's reading and notes...)
After repentance, are we then confident in our calling and our Caller? We should be!
Father, You have shown us the Way! You have shown us our calling. You have shown us Your intention to see Your calling fulfilled in our lives!
1 comment:
So true I know since I finally understand the need and command to repent, in my life over the last few years, I have seen a dramatic difference in my prayer life and the answers to my prayers. It’s so refreshing when we give it all up to God and he’ll show us the miraculous. He’s such a marvelous gracious father who dusts us off and sends us on our way when we repent from the heart and do all we can not to fall back in that pit of sin. Even when we do though he still forgives and picks us right back up. Thank ya father for your love, grace and mercy that we so don’t deserve but you give to us freely anyways.
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