Welcome!
Date: Friday, May 28, 2010
Today: Walking into the promise(s) of God
Passage: Joshua 6:1-2 NIV
1 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
Jericho had fighting men. Israel did not have any physical weapons to fight
Yet, Jericho was tightly shut up, all because of Israelites!
God had promised the land of Canaan, to Israel. But, as they approached their promise, they did not see a nation ready to welcome them, with its gates wide open
The natural question is:
If God promised something, how can this wall stand like this, right in front?
History says that the city of Jericho had two walls, one next to the other, one 6 feet wide and the other 12 feet, and a height of 30 feet, which is the height of a three storied building
God told Joshua that they, the Israelites, were going to get it (v.2)
By looking at these mighty-looking walls, they can assume that the people inside are also strong and tough
But the fact was just the opposite
People inside the city were full of fear, with their hearts melting,
Because they heard what God did for the Israelites
God knew that beyond the wall, there was an “army of cowards”
When Jesus was sending His disciples, he told them to go courageously and the enemy will submit to them, and do them no harm (Luke 10: 18, 19)
Satan is a defeated foe; Jesus crushed the head of the serpent, on the cross
When Jesus tells us not to be afraid of the enemy who is satan, he knows that satan has no power over the child of God who is committed to Jesus
Joshua knew the fact. He did not care how big the wall looked like
It is true that the enemy will try to bring hindrances to every progress in our life
If we think we can just walk into those promises of God, we may be wrong
It may be a city you are praying for; it could be a village
It could be about your personal matters
We need to fight the battle on our knees
We need to cry out to God
Do we limit God?
David was standing in front of Goliath one day
He just challenged and vowed that Goliath will be killed that day
Goliath was a man, unlike Jericho
Dealing with things is one thing; dealing with people is another
But, it doesn’t matter
Next time when you face the biggest challenge, just separate some time to praise and worship God
Amazing things will happen
When you praise God, even the worst and the biggest will melt like wax, right in front of you
Look beyond the walls; look beyond “Goliaths” in your life
God bless
BG
Prayer: Lord, help me look beyond the “Jerichoes” and the “Goliaths” in my life. Help me to look at things and people the way you want me to look. Amen
Yesterday, May 27, 2010, the graduation ceremony at Westminster Theological Seminary went well. Praise God