When Israel crossed the Jordan, God told Joshua to choose and send one man from every tribe of Judah, to take a stone from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing. Carry them over and put them down at the place where they are staying tonight.
But when Joshua told it to the people, he added the reason. Saying that these stones from the floor of Jordan would serve as a reminder to them that God stopped the Jordan so they could cross, while the priests held the ark. Joshua knew God's plan even before God explicitly told it to him. This closeness to the heart and will of God is probably what Moses saw in Joshua from the beginning, Joshua stayed behind in the presence of God. (Exodus 33:11)
There are times when I feel 'full up' during my time with God, like I have stayed enough, or grasped his revelation, or he has spoken and is done with me. But Joshua is one challenging character. He loved the presence of God. Nothing refreshed him more than seeing Moses talk to God as if he were his friend. He never filled up, on his presence, God's presence would go with him. It was a kind of obsessive love.
This moment defined God's relationship with Joshua, and established him as a leader in the eyes of the people.
The Israelites went to Gilgal near Jericho and there Joshua set up the 12 stones as a reminder for what God has done. A testament to the power and faithfulness of their God.
Our God is still powerful, it bugs me sometimes why we don't see things like this today. I sometimes feel that to me God sometimes seems like a divine marriage, guidance, business counselor. I have seen him heal people and save people who were lost. But sometimes I realize that I make him small in my eyes.
So here's what I think I need to take away from this.
He wants me to remember, that he is strong, he is able to do new and mighty things!
He also wants me to remember the epic things he has done. Like last night, and how he used broken plans and coincidence to give me and my fiancee time together. (I know that's not like Israel crossing the Jordan. But it was an epic thing to me)
I also feel challenged by Joshua. He was so close to God, that when God told him the first step of the plan, he already knew what he had in mind. That is knowing your king.
What a man of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment