Text:
Joshua 5:13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
14"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence.
14"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence.
Meditation:
What on earth you are here for? Such question puzzled many minds and despite successes in various endeavors, many people sought for real answer. Are you on the verge of your dream only to realize that this is not what you came for here on earth?
In our text for today, Joshua was on his way to Jericho to fulfill God’s command to conquer this land. He was filled with enthusiasm. He knew God is with them and everything was already set to realize the promise of God. Then suddenly from nowhere, a man with a drawn sword appeared to him. Confused as to who this man is, Joshua asked if whose side he’s on and the man answered “NEITHER, but as commander of the Lord’s army.” That statement made Joshua recognized two things, the man and himself. Firstly, he recognized that the man was a heavenly being and secondly, Joshua recognized that he (Joshua) was not a soldier to put down an enemy but an instrument of the Lord to do the Lord’s battle. The angel made him realized too that it’s not his war and Jericho is not a prize for God’s favorite. The conquest of Jericho which they will execute is God’s judgment to the people of Canaan who have long been given chance by God since Abraham to amend their ways. Joshua and Israel must know their place--it is not that God is on their side; rather, they must fight God's battles.
Do you know your place in this life? Have you come to the point you realized you were made for God? I believe every Christian is a soldier of God. We are not here to pursue personal ambitions which would lead to nothing but frustration rather as instruments of God we are here to execute God’s orders. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20 that we have to go and make disciples of all men. God’s battle is to conquer this earth and to win souls for his kingdom. Wherever we are, we are being send to execute judgment of God on people; salvation to those who will believe and damnation to those who will reject God’s offer. Are you doing the Lord’s battle?
1 Corinthian 1:18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
