2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Since we are amidst a series of devotions about Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there, it is wholly appropriate for us to see some really salient examples from the Scriptures of just how His presence has impacted people and events. As we go through these citations today, think about how Jehovah Shammah’s presence has impacted your own lives. I can testify that His presence has made a huge difference in my own.
After wandering in the desert for forty years, it is not hard to imagine how the question might come up in the minds of the Israelites of where was God going with all of this. A whole generation of their people had died, except for Joshua and Caleb. Even their beloved Moses and Aaron were gone at the time that Joshua led them into the Promised Land. JS 1: 1-2, 5, “After the death of the Lord’s servant, Moses, the Lord spoke to Moses’ helper, Joshua, son of Nun. He said, ‘My servant Moses is dead. Get ready now, you and all the people of Israel, and cross the Jordan River into the land that I am giving them….Joshua, no one will be able to defeat you as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will always be with you. I will never abandon you.’” When you think of it, this is a most extraordinary promise. Those who know the rest of this marvelous story know that God was to keep this promise, and it would have huge long-range consequences.
JS 5: 13-15, “While Joshua was near Jericho, he suddenly saw a Man standing in front of him, holding a sword. Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you one of our soldiers, or an enemy?’ ‘Neither,’ the Man answered. ‘I am here as the commander of the Lord’s army.’ Joshua threw himself on the ground in worship and said, ‘I am your servant, Sir. What do you want me to do?’ And the commander of the Lord’s army told him, ‘Take your sandals off. You are standing on holy ground,’ and Joshua did as was told.” I find it compelling that the same words were used here that were used when Moses was standing before the burning bush. EX 3: 5, “God said, ‘Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.’” Upon first inspection of the JS 5: 13-15 passage, one might assume that the Man was the archangel Michael, the high ranking guardian angel of Israel. However, that would not be correct. Had it been Michael, he would have immediately told Joshua not to worship him. However, this Man didn’t do that. Instead, He demanded worship. That tips us off to the fact that God in His pre-incarnate second person was present. In fact, this Man had to have been Jesus Christ! Note also Joshua’s attitude upon hearing that this Man was the commander of the Lord’s army. He was humble and reverent. It is not hard to guess that Joshua was a man God held in high esteem. Jehovah Shammah knew that Joshua was would be faithful and obedient from his past performance. After all, he was one of the two spies of the twelve sent from Kadesh Barnea into Canaan who came back to tell the truth [NU 14: 6-7]. Joshua was being consistent here. There is surely a lesson in that for us too. Jehovah Shammah makes it clear that we are to accept His supremacy and sovereignty in our lives, responding to it with humility, obedience, and reverence.
Another man who mirrored Joshua’s traits and who felt the Lord’s presence in his life is Gideon. I write about him often, because his humility and faithfulness is such a wonderful example to us. You will remember that in JG 6: 15, Gideon describes himself as a member of the “weakest clan of the tribe of Manasseh and the least important member of his family.” And, yet, Jehovah Shammah knew that Gideon was the right man for a job He wanted done. JG 6: 14-16, “Then the Lord ordered him, ‘God with all your great strength and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I Myself am sending you.’ Gideon replied, ‘But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family.’ The Lord answered, ‘You can do it because I will help you. You will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man.’” I don’t know if you have experienced the supernatural power of God in your own lives, but I can attest to having seen it in mine. Some of the things that have happened to me could have only happened with God’s intervention. Look at your own lives and see what your own experience has been. Now, I’m not going to say that God has caused me to do anything as important as what Joshua or Gideon did, but He’s been there just the same. Back in JG 6: 12, any question of God’s attitude toward Gideon is erased. “The Lord’s angel appeared to him there and said, ‘The Lord is with you, brave and mighty man!’”
God’s opinion of us is the one that really matters, not the opinions of humans. We have the choice by our thoughts, actions and heart-attitude to influence God’s opinions of us. Our loving Abba knows, as we should know that we are sinners. He loves us enough to have sacrificed His only Son on the cross, so that we could be saved. With our willingness to trust Him, be faithful, and be obedient, we also can engender his esteem. Now, that Dear Ones, is a great blessing in our lives!
PRAYER: O Lord, Joshua and Gideon were not full of themselves. There was no arrogance in them. Because of that, You were able to reach them, soul and spirit, and they were willing to obey You. What a great lesson that is for us. Neither man knew the full impact their actions were to have on human history. They didn’t even know the full impact of the assignment You have given them. But, we who have the advantage of history’s hindsight have a better idea of the way You were able to do Your work through them. Even if we are not called for such important assignments and/or we do not know the full picture on assignments You give us, we can rely on the fact that we and others will be blessed if we obey You. We can better appreciate Your presence in our lives, if we are willing to take the time to examine our lives for that. Your power, supremacy, sovereignty, and will are great. We acknowledge them today in deepest reverence and humility. Lord, we open our spiritual vessels to Your Spirit and dedicate ourselves to making You the Lord of our lives. We offer You thanks, worship, praise, and adoration for all that You have done for us in sacrificing Christ on the cross and sending us the Holy Spirit to indwell within us. We acknowledge that any honor or glory that comes our way for what we do belongs to You and You alone. We pledge to trust and obey You, not just because it advances our sanctification, but because that is the way You can use us to get Your righteous agenda accomplished. We humbly pray in Christ’s holy name, amen.
Tomorrow, our God-led journey through citations that reveal Him as Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there, continues. And what a journey it is turning out to be! All through it, we are discovering the profound love, patience, compassion, and power that God has. These blessings that our Abba showers upon us were not just for the people in the Scriptures, or for only for special people. They are for anyone who is willing to love and obey Him. Often He showers them on ordinary people like you and I whom He calls to do a particular assignment for Him. We all need to know that we are needed. God is counting on us and loves each and every one of us. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn