Scripture Union Encounter With God 18th July 2020 Devotional – ‘Still Be My Vision’ TODAY’S TOPIC: “STILL BE MY…
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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 Daily 17th July 2020 Devotional – Song To Remember TODAY’S TOPIC: SONG TO REMEMBER Opening Prayer:…
Encounter With God 16th July 2020 Devotional – Powerfully Present TODAY’S TOPIC: POWERFULLY PRESENT Opening Prayer: Lord, we are aware…
Encounter With God 15th July 2020 Devotional – Matters of Life And Death TODAY’S TOPIC: MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH…
Encounter With God 13th July 2020 Devotional – A Covenant Relationship TODAY’S TOPIC: A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP Opening Prayer: Lord, we…
Encounter With God 12th July 2020 Devotional – The Battle Belongs To God TODAY’S TOPIC: THE BATTLE BELONGS TO GOD…
Encounter With God 11th July 2020 Devotional – Presumed Innocent TODAY’S TOPIC: PRESUMED INNOCENT Opening Prayer: Lord, give me a…
Encounter With God 10th July 2020 Devotional – Listen To Him TODAY’S TOPIC: LISTEN TO HIM Opening Prayer: Lord,…
Encounter With God 9th July 2020 Devotional – Happy Anniversary! TODAY’S TOPIC: HAPPY ANNIVERSARIES! Opening Prayer: Lord, every day we…
Encounter With God 8th July 2020 Devotional – Give Boundlessly TODAY’S TOPIC: GIVE BOUNDLESSLY Opening Prayer: Lord, we consider ourselves…
Encounter With God 6th July 2020 Devotional – A Land of Promise And Peril TODAY’S TOPIC: A LAND OF PROMISE…
Encounter With God 4th July 2020 Devotional: Destruction And Jealousy? TODAY’S TOPIC: DESTRUCTION AND JEALOUSY? Opening Prayer: Lord, we understand…
Encounter With God 3rd July 2020 Devotional – Compliant Vs. Committed TODAY’S TOPIC: COMPLIANT VS. COMMITTED Opening Prayer: Lord, grant…
Encounter With God 2nd July 2020 Devotional – Boundaries For Blessing TODAY’S TOPIC: BOUNDARIES FOR BLESSING Opening Prayer: Lord, give…
Encounter With God 1st July 2020 Devotional – The Lord And His Law TODAY’S TOPIC: THE LORD AND HIS LAW…
Encounter With God 30th June 2020 Devotional – Facing The Giants TODAY’S TOPIC: FACING THE GIANTS Opening Prayer: Lord, no…