ESOCS Devotional 10 August 2024 – When the Lord Steps In
MEMORY VERSE: “All the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the Mediterranean Sea heard that the Lord had dried up the Jordan until the people of Israel had crossed it. They became afraid and lost their courage because of the Israelites.” Joshua 5:1 NIV
TEXT: JOSHUA 5:1-13
So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised. 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord—to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” 7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. 9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.
10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. 11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. 12 Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood 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?”
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A great difference is made when the Lord steps into the life of a man or the life of a people. You cannot remain the same. It is also the same with those around you. They will have the feeling of the Almighty power of the Lord. Truly, there is no one who experienced the Lord’s anointing that did not make a noise so loud that terrified the enemies out there and within (Acts 2:1-7).
In our text today, we see that those who occupied the portion God had reserved for Father Abraham and his descendant heard of what God did in enabling Israel cross the Jordan River, they became afraid and lost their courage. (Joshu 5:1). Can we now step forward and allow the Lord take His place in our lives? You must know that God’s presence in your life can dislocate the enemies. They shall all run away in fear.
You cannot experience the full measure of what God is, until you get cleansed of your load of sin and make a total and conscious surrender to Him (Psalm 51:4). For the Israelites, it was the circumcision of the body; but for us, it is the circumcision of the heart through faith in Christ Jesus that God requires (Romans 1:15-17; Joshua 5:6-9).
The battle ahead, should be seen to be greater than the battle won. Do not relax after a few testimonies. Push on with the word of God, as your guard and guide. In so doing, you will see the angel of the Lord step in to fight for you. (Romans 8:1,3, Joshua 5:11-13). God never loses a battle. The victory of Israel over Egypt and Canaan after the Lord stepped in is now such history that we all can point at and remain ever grateful to God.
- Is it not a great thing to harbour the presence of the Lord at all times?
- Lord, I look up to you in every situation, in Jesus Name. Amen.
Further Reading: Daniel 6:1-14; Luke 5: 12-26; Acts 17:1-15
ESOCS Devotional 10 August 2024
