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?"
Joshua was a man who understood war. Facing the first battle in Canna, he was filled with anxiety. Then, at that moment, he approached Jericho and looked. This is a very important principle in spiritual battles. Why shall we look? First, we need to understand what we need. In Old Testament, when Nehemiah was to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, he rose up at night, and examined the city wall to understand its damages. In New Testament, Jesus ask disciples, "open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." Opening our eyes and looking are to let us understand the challenges ahead. Especially when preaching gospels, we have to understand the challenges facing us. We can't just provide spiritual feast to everyone who comes to our church. Different people have different needs. Some should eat hamburgers. Some should have a steak dinner. Some should eat salads and exercise more. We have to satisfy different spirits based on their needs.
Second, we open our eyes and look so that we understand God's will. In Habakkuk of the Old Testament, in order to understand God's will, the prophet walked up the tower, and look out for what Jehovah would say to him. Open our eye and look so that we understand God's will on us, on our church. Visions were never the results of our collective brain power. Visions come from God, and come from profound prayers. May God open our spiritual eyes in our prayers, seeing what wonderful a work He has accomplished. Let us learn to care what God cares. As Joshua approached Jericho, in one hand he wanted to understand, on the other hand, he was seeking visions from God, seeking the way God would fight this battle.
Joshua was a truly obedient person. He was a leader of the army, so he might already have a dozen plans in his head. He, however, was willing to humbly come to God, seeking how God would lead. That was the secret of his success! The way God chooses will always beyond what he could imagine. No matter what circumstance you are in, if you desire victory, seek God first. When Joshua looked up, he saw a man with a drawn sword. Authority comes with a sword. He started to understand who the real marshal in his life was, and he started to turn to God for help. Brothers and sisters, do you know the marshal in your life? If you don't, come to know Him and follow Him!
Lord, we thank you because you are glad to be the marshal in our lives. May God give us obedient hearts, seeking your will in everything we do, and be glad to follow you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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