Spiritual Battle (part 1)

Last week when I was up in the boundary waters I had hoped to start reading through some books of the Old Testament that I've neglected in the past.  But the Bible was forgotten in the car so I'm just getting started now that we're back from there and our big family day around Naomi's graduation is over too.

Reading through the book of Joshua I arrived at these verses from chapter 5:

¹³ Once when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?” ¹⁴ He replied, “Neither; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped...

These verses come just before the most unlikely of events--the conquest of Jericho by people who just obeyed God.  They did not fight.  They just obeyed God who told them, through the "commander of the army of the Lord," that they should simply march around the city once a day for six days (according to some more specific instructions you can read in Joshua 6) and then, on the seventh day, to march around seven times and then, on the last time, the trumpets would blow, the people would shout, and the walls would come tumbling down.

What impresses me, however, is how the "commander of the army of the LORD" does not say he is on Joshua's side.  He does not say he will make Joshua's plans succeed.  He simply gives instructions that Joshua should give to the people.  Joshua is but a servant.  The Lord is in charge.

How does that apply to any spiritual battles you are facing these days?  Are you willing to wait to hear what God has to say before making your plans?  Following God's commands is truly the only way that any of us will have any success at all.

I'll plan to add to these thoughts in the days to come.  Add your own by commenting below or contacting me.

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