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A NEW DAY AND ERA

It is possible to change direction in a day. The days of wandering can become days of service to God. The people of Israel and Joshua start something new when God confronts him.

1. Joshua's confrontation (vs 13)

Joshua is about to do battle when he saw a man standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand. It was encouraging to know that God was with him in the battle. It was more than a physical battle. There is always a spiritual battle in this world. God confronts us by His Spirit and today also through the Church. We need a fresh encounter with God. Are you in the wilderness or in the battleground? The people had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.

2. Joshua's consultation (vs 14)

The Lord here remains independent unless we walk in his ways. The battle is not Joshua's but the Lord's. It is about God and His purposes. God is not an idle spectator. He should be consulted. There is more to life than our own personal fulfillment or desires.

God had fed them every day in the wilderness. Now they had to fight and then work the land. God wants to take us a stage further.

3. Joshua's consecration (vs 14b-15)

Joshua is overawed by the Lord and is compelled to worship God. Do you have a sense of awe for God? As you begin to know God better, then you will appreciate Him better. It is like opening a curtain to let more sunshine into the room. There must be service but there should also be submission.

Worship
Submission
Direction - "Take off your sandals". These are the symbols of strength. It showed respect to take them off. Moses also did the same. We should take our sandals off. God IS in control.
Obedience - Joshua did what God asked him to do. God is not only looking for faith but also obedience.