He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the LORD’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the LORD your God forever.” [Joshua 4.24]
Why does God do the mighty things He does?
He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the LORD’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the LORD your God forever.” [Joshua 4.24]
It is important to notice that the entire world seems to be included in the wording of Joshua 4.24.
So then, consider the following:
When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the LORD’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?” The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told. [Joshua 5.13-15]
By this time in history, Israel had proven over and again that it was a rebellious nation. God had already made it clear that He intended to destroy the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites (for their Godlessness and idolatry) and would utilize Israel to do so.
“After the LORD your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The LORD has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The LORD your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. [Deuteronomy 9.4-5]
It is clear that God is neither Jew or American, Democrat or Republican, nor any side of any argument. God is right. God is good, God is faithful. God is just. God is God and there is no other.
It is not about whose side God is on! It is about who is on God's side!
This was an important lesson for Joshua early in his career as leader of Israel.
Let it be made clear here that God is for everything that He is. So, if we are for everything He is, then we are indeed found in His favor.
The New Testament makes it sound however like God is for us:
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? [Romans 8.31]
But this can only be properly understood if we back up a few verses in Romans 8 so we might fully understand verse 31:
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. [Romans 8.28]
God's power is for God's purposes, not ours. If we side with God, then all the resources of heaven are at our disposal. Otherwise, not so much. God is only "on our side" as much as we are submitted to Him!
Look at 2 Thessalonians 1.11-12:
So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. [2 Thessalonians 1.11-12]
Notice the power of God is assigned to the good things that faith prompts us to do. Where does faith come from? God. God gives faith.
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. [Romans 12.3]
Power is not assigned for us to do what we want to do. Again, power is assigned to accomplish the good things that faith (from God) prompts us to do!
Many of us have wished to walk in power and wondered why no power is present. I believe a careful evaluation will reveal that we are powerless because we are on our own personal crusade and not God's!
God's power is reserved for His will AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. If we are busy about God's will on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, then we will surely see the power of God manifest in our deeds. Besides being our Savior, Jesus is our example. Jesus proved this with His life and miracles and what He said backs this point up:
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. [John 5.19]
Not even Jesus was on His own agenda! Power did not manifest in Jesus works because He was Jesus! They manifested in His works because His works were the WORKS OF GOD AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!
Unless we get focused on God and His will for the earth, then we can forget about walking in any kind of power. Oh, we might be plenty "spiritual" or "pious" - we might preach mighty sermons and write books that sell millions - but we will have no part of the manifest, circumstance-changing power of God.
All of John 14 is enlightening to the point of this post.
Father in heaven, forgive me for being on my own mission - my own journey - my own way, albeit "in Your name." Forgive me for expecting You to bless my works and decisions. Help me to get more real than ever in praying and meaning, "May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
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