Encounter With God
Encounter With God
WHO GOES THERE?
Opening Prayer
Lord, everywhere You stand is Holy Ground.
Read JOSHUA 5:13–15
The Fall of Jericho
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?”
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord[a] have for his servant?”
15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Meditate
‘Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God’ (Rom 8:39). Thank Him for this security.
Encounter With God
Think Further
This passage reminds me of a common movie scenario in which the guard spots a figure and calls out: ‘Who goes there, friend or foe?’ Joshua sees a man before him with sword drawn, ready to fight. Joshua’s question is obvious, yet the answer he receives is puzzling. To say that God does not take sides is difficult because He has already enabled the Israelites to inherit the (occupied) land, but the answer does identify a God who is ‘I AM’. This God does not answer to man’s demands. His actions ‘for’ or ‘against’ are determined by His will and our relationship to Him. God is for any who call on His name.
We have little doubt that this is God standing before Joshua. In Scripture, the worship of the angelic is forbidden (Rev 22:8, 9), and the presence of the Lord renders any location ‘holy ground’ (Exod 3:5). Joshua shows us the correct response in God’s presence, as he falls down in reverence and offers himself in God’s service. As humans, we like things to worship (statues, idols), and we tend to lean on inanimate objects to provide focus for our worship. Encounter With God
The Ark of the Covenant has become one such object, sought by treasure hunters and clouded in unfounded mysteries, but here the message is clear: the box you’re carrying does not strictly contain God, any more than the cloud, fire, or the Holy of Holies. God is not restricted to a box. God is far bigger and is actively fighting for you – so who can be against you? How often we try to contain God by recruiting Him to fight for our cause. God cannot be contained, but sits on His throne above, undertaking for His people.
- Encounter With God
Encounter With God 4th August 2020 Devotional – Measure For Measure
Encounter With God 4th August 2020 Devotional – Measure For Measure TODAY’S TOPIC: MEASURE FOR MEASURE Opening Prayer: Lord, I…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 3rd August 2020 Devotional – The Prosperity Gospel
Encounter With God 3rd August 2020 Devotional – The Prosperity Gospel TODAY’S TOPIC: THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL Opening Prayer: Lord, I…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Scripture Union Encounter With God 2nd August 2020 – Thirsty For God!
Scripture Union Encounter With God 2nd August 2020 – Thirsty For God! TODAY’S TOPIC: THIRSTY FOR GOD Opening Prayer: Truly,…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 1st August 2020 Devotional – Being And Doing
Encounter With God 1st August 2020 Devotional – Being And Doing TODAY’S TOPIC: BEING AND DOING Opening Prayer: Lord, make…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 31st July 2020 Devotional – Giving God’s Way
Encounter With God 31st July 2020 Devotional – Giving God’s Way TODAY’S TOPIC: GIVING GOD’S WAY Opening Prayer: Lord, make…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 30th July 2020 Devotional – Crocodile Tears?
Scripture Union Encounter With God 30th July 2020 Devotional – Crocodile Tears? TODAY’S TOPIC: CROCODILE TEARS? Opening Prayer: Lord, teach…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 29th July 2020 Devotional – A Passion For Holiness
Encounter With God 29th July 2020 Devotional – A Passion For Holiness TODAY’S TOPIC: A PASSION FOR HOLINESS Opening Prayer:…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 28th July 2020 Devotional – Faith Under Fire
Scripture Union Encounter With God 28th July 2020 Devotional – Faith Under Fire TODAY’S TOPIC: FAITH UNDER FIRE Opening Prayer:…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 27th July 2020 Devotional – Motives For Mission
Encounter With God 27th July 2020 Devotional – Motives For Mission TODAY’S TOPIC: MOTIVES FOR MISSION Opening Prayer: Lord, thank…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 25th July 2020 Devotional – Know Your Future
Scripture Union Encounter With God 25th July 2020 Devotional – Know Your Future TODAY’S TOPIC: KNOW YOUR FUTURE Opening Prayer:…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Scripture Union Encounter With God 24th July 2020 – Message And Messengers
Scripture Union Encounter With God 24th July 2020 – Message And Messengers TODAY’S TOPIC: MESSAGE AND MESSENGERS Opening Prayer: Lord,…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 23rd July 2020 Devotional – From Glory To Glory
Scripture Union Encounter With God 23rd July 2020 Devotional – From Glory To Glory TODAY’S TOPIC: FROM GLORY INTO GLORY…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Scripture Union Encounter With God 22nd July 2020 – What Do You Smell Like?
Scripture Union Encounter With God 22nd July 2020 – What Do You Smell Like? TODAY’S TOPIC: WHAT DO YOU SMELL…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Daily Encounter With God 21st July 2020 – The New Testament Church
Daily Encounter With God 21st July 2020 – The New Testament Church TODAY’S TOPIC: THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH Opening Prayer:…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 20th July 2020 Devotional – True Comfort
Scripture Union Encounter With God 20th July 2020 Devotional – True Comfort TODAY’S TOPIC: TRUE COMFORT Opening Prayer: Lord, thank…
Read More » - Encounter With God
Encounter With God 19th July 2020 Devotional – Get Well Soon
Scripture Union Encounter With God 19th July 2020 Devotional – Get Well Soon TODAY’S TOPIC: GET WELL SOON Opening Prayer:…
Read More »