Seize the Moment – Day 668
God’s Plans!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, January 14.
The nation of Israel was now poised to take the Promised Land, but God had not yet revealed His battle plans to Joshua. Instead of revealing the plan, God ordered Joshua to circumcise the generation who had been born in the wilderness (2-8), and to celebrate the Passover on the “desert plains of Jericho” (9-10). Afterwards, the manna that had fed God’s people for forty years unexpectedly stopped, and God’s people were now dependent on God’s provision of the Promised Land for their daily bread (11-12).
Can you imagine the burden of responsibility Joshua was experiencing?
Still with no plan, Joshua goes to look upon Jericho, a heavily fortified city prepared for a siege, and now with his people in need of the food that this city’s crops would provide, Joshua contemplates his next steps. In Joshua 5:13-15, God reveals His abundant provision:
Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
God’s plan was to lead the battle! God’s captain, with his sword drawn, was ready to lead Joshua and His people to victory. Can you imagine how relieved Joshua must have felt?
Seize the moment and wait upon God, His plans are for your good and His glory (Psalm 46:10-11)!
God bless you!