The handmaid at His feet

Many of us are familiar with the story of Joshua, the Israelites, and the Walls of Jericho. Indeed, it has become a popular prayer on the tongue of many a Christian. The prayer is usually declaration of the removal of any obstacle in our lives that is preventing us from reaching, receiving or attaining something, and it usually follows along the lines of “may all of the walls of Jericho in our lives fall down, In the name of Jesus”. To which all who hear, shout a resounding “Amen”.

What many have failed to realize in that story is that something significant happened in order for those walls to come tumbling down. And by “something” I am not simply referring to the “shout” of the Israelites upon the conclusion of their 7th march around the city.

Joshua 6 gives the full account of the event, and the events that led to “the Event”. But it is the events that led up to “The Event” that I want us to take note of.

Joshua 6:2-16 says:

And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD. And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD. And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

There was a specific way that the Lord asked that this mission be carried out. He gave very specific instructions on what was to be done. Not only in how many times they were to march around the city; not only in that they were not to make any sound with their voices during the 1st 6 marches, one march each day for 6 days, but for the sound of the trumpets; not only in that after the 7th march of the 7 marches on that 7th day, and the long sounding of the trumpets, at Joshua’s command, only then were they to shout a mighty shout, but God gave them the order in which they were to line up. He was very specific in that 7 priests were to bear the Ark of the Covenant. They were to follow behind another 7 priests who carried and blew the trumpets made of ram’s horns. An armed man was to go before the 7 Priests who blew the trumpets, and another armed man following behind the priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant.

This exact instruction was given through the Angel of God, directly to Joshua.

Joshua then gave the exact instruction to the priests and the people, who in turn, obeyed the instruction exactly as it was given to them.

As a result, verse 20 says:

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

For the sake of contrast, let us examine another part of this story.

Even after the fall of the wall, in the course of taking the city, the Lord, again, gave very specific instructions to the people of Israel.

Joshua 6:17-19 & 7:1 tells us:

And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD. But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

After the fall of Jericho, Joshua and the children of Israel were riding the tide of their victory in the strength of the Lord. Which is why what happened soon after left Joshua very confused and in despair.

Joshua 7:2-9 says:

And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

To which the Lord responded with:

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. (Joshua 7:10-12)

The Lord had specifically ordered that the only live souls to be spared in Jericho be Rahab, the prostitute, who hid the spies of Israel and those who were in her household. Likewise, the only other thing that was to be taken from Jericho was the silver, gold and the vessels of brass and iron. Those were consecrated unto the Lord, and were to be put into the treasury of the Lord. But, one person disobeyed. Just one person! Who did not do it exactly as God had commanded. Therefore, because of the partial disobedience of one person, the Lord withdrew His hand of protection from an entire people!

When you read further in that chapter, you will see that it was not until that person admitted to what he did, returned the items that he had disobediently taken, and was thereafter stoned to death and burned (he and his entire household including his cattle), did the Lord now restore His Hand over the people of Israel.

When the Lord gives specific instruction, brethren, it is important that we follow that instruction.

He is a merciful and compassionate God. But let us not forget, that He is also a consuming fire.

For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)

Moses and the Israelites had to obey a series of instructions leading up to their exodus from Egypt. But even as the exodus began, instructions still came. The Lord said in Exodus 14:2:

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so.

The Lord specifically instructed them to go in the direction of the Red Sea, knowing that He would harden the heart of Pharaoh who in turn would go after them and believe that based on where they were headed, they would be trapped.

Moses was not privy to the manner of miracle that the Lord was about to perform. Yet, he did not argue. He simply obeyed.

God could have caused an earthquake to happen that could have torn down the walls of Jericho. God could have instructed the Israelites to take a path which would have led them around the Red Sea, or He could have caused Pharaoh and his army to not come after them. Instead, He instructed the leaders, Joshua and Moses, respectively, who in turn instructed the people of Israel into a course of action, to which their obedience to His instruction not only brought them face to face with what appeared to be an insurmountable predicament, but that instruction, and the precise obedience of that instruction, brought them to their deliverance.

It was God who tore down the walls of Jericho. It was God who parted the Red Sea for the people of Israel to walk through. But He did it only after they obeyed His instruction.

We cry to God everyday for one need or another. One miracle or another. We ask Him to “tear down the walls of Jericho in our lives”, or “to part the Red Seas in our lives”. But let us honestly ask ourselves a question. Have we obeyed His every instruction on that which we are seeking from Him? Do we ask while standing still or are we moving in faith and obedience. The Israelites were on the banks of the Red Sea when God parted it. Joshua and his men were right outside the walls of Jericho when the Lord brought it crashing down.

Are you a million miles away from what it is that you are seeking from God?

Are you arguing, rationalizing, negotiating, or flat out disobeying every instruction from the Holy Spirit that is supposed to move you to the banks/walls of your deliverance? Just because it doesn’t seem to make sense, or it seems difficult, or because it’s an action that you are not accustomed to?

Every thing that has to do with the expectation of a move from God, comes with instruction from God. This is the time, brethren. Today is the precise time in our lives when we have to be a Moses; be a Joshua, and seek the face of God. We must pray, fervently and continuously. We must meditate on His Word, in thought and deed. We must learn to recognize His voice and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Most importantly, we must heed the instruction that the Spirit gives to us. Because it is only in total obedience to God that we place ourselves in the right place, at His right time, to receive our deliverance. The deliverance that only He can provide.

It is my prayer that as we continue our spiritual journey during this season of Lent, that the Lord teach us how to recognize his voice, and that He give us the strength, the courage to mind His instruction, in every aspect of our lives.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

As always, please, share your thoughts that you might encourage your brethren.

In Christ,
The handmaid at His feet.

The word anguish, when used as a noun means “severe mental or physical pain or suffering”. When used as a verb, it means “be extremely distressed about something”.

Think about the word. Think about it’s meaning.

Now, consider the story that you already know again.

The story of your salvation

It was in anguish that Christ saved us.

It wasn’t in the midst of a beautiful meadow blossoming with beautiful flowers. It wasn’t with him standing on a stage, making a declaration and receiving roaring applause. It wasn’t at the height of a long prestigious career, after having received numerous awards and medals. It wasn’t done with laughter and the joyful accolades of encouraging men and women, boys, and girls.

It was done in anguish. It was agonizing, painful, brutal, torturous, and downright gruesome.

He, Jesus Christ, the sinless one, gave himself up to die, that we might be saved, in total and complete anguish.

He told the truth; that He is the son of God, and for that truth, He was arrested, condemned, beaten, mocked, and crucified.

Before these events took place, Matthew 26: 36-46 says:

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

As we enter into the week of the passion of Christ, it is extremely important that we remember all of the pain, all of the torture, and the absolute anguish, that he had to undergo.

It is important that we remember His state when His soul was deeply troubled.

It is important that we remember how He had to go to the Father in prayer to receive strength for that which He was about to undergo for our sakes.

It is important that we remember every crack of the whip that split the flesh on His back.

It is important that we remember the prick of every thorn that pierced his head from the crown of thorns that was pressed on his head.

It is important to remember that he felt every ounce of weight from that cross that was placed on the bruised shoulder of His already weakened body. The cross that his weakened body had to carry & support. In the midst of the whip and yells from the soldiers, the shouting from the crowd.

It is important that we remember that He felt the pain when the hammered a square peg through his palms and feet as they nailed Him to that cross, and it was from those nails that He was suspended on that cross.

It is important that we remember that He hung there, suspended, I’m pain, in agony, it anguish, while He cried out to the Father, until He eventually gave up the ghost.

Why is it important to remember all of these details?

Because it is so easy to forget. It’s one thing to remember that He died for our sins. It’s another thing entirely to remember the manner in which He died for our sins.

Because we humans have a high intolerance for pain. We frown at discomfort, and shriek at suffering.

We beg and cry to God to ease our pain when we suffer for ourselves, not to mention the thought of suffering on behalf of another.

For most of us it’s unthinkable.

We forget, however that it was in someone else’s suffering that we were saved.

It was through someone else’s death that we are now able to live.

So, when we go through life, and painful moments present themselves, let us not act as if God has not equipped us to endure. Because He has.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24 )

Because remembering the details should cause us to pause and reflect on the love of God. What would cause Him to allow His son to suffer in such a way?

His love for the one who He created in His own image.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

We often pray that Christ’s death on the cross not be vain in our lives. Whenever we pray this prayer, we also need to envision His anguish, and ask that it too, not be for naught.

So, when we start to moan and cry that we have not warranted the suffering that we happen to go through at any time, let us in that moment, trust God, just as Christ trusted Him in that very dark and grueling hour. Then, let us remember Christ, and that it was in anguish; in suffering, that Jesus gave us what we are truly not deserving of. The gift of everlasting life.

May the gift of His death, and the glorious rewards of His resurrection, be our inheritance. Now, and forevermore. Amen.

Share your thoughts that you might encourage your brethren.

In Christ.
The handmaid at His feet.

One day, we were in the car and we drove past one of those signs that I’m sure many of us have seen before. It was a sign, in the shape of a cross that read “Jesus Saves”. My son, who was 13 then asked what was a very amusing question at the time, but later I admitted to myself was a very intelligent question:

Jesus saves what?

I was born into a Christian home. I went to church because my parents took me to church. It wasn’t until middle school that I began to attend church on my own. But then again, even that was simply out of habit. I developed a personal relationship with Christ when I was in high school. That was when I began to have a genuine interest in the message of salvation. That when I began to desire to know Jesus for myself. It was then that I began to come into the knowledge of what exactly it is that Jesus saves.

So, the question is not only valid, but it is extremely vital. It is also a question that every single Christian should be able to answer.

My life has been a series of lessons. Once one is learned, the Lord starts me on another one. The life lesson that I’m currently on is “The demonstration of love”.

Matthew 22: 36-40 says

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

The amazing thing about this God that we serve is that for everything that He instructs us to do, He always; directly or through a messenger or servant; shows us how to do it.

So, when we are given the commandment to love God and our fellow man, faithfully, the Lord shows us how.

How does one really know when they are loved? How does one believe that they are loved? The answer is quite simple. When they see, and feel love based on the demonstration of love from another.

God has been demonstrating his love for man since creation. First of all, He put us in a beautiful garden, furnished with everything that we could ever want and need. Then, even after we disobeyed Him, He continued to show His love with mercy, long suffering, and compassion. God demonstrated, and demonstrates his love by sending His word through His ministers and prophets to guide and lead us away from the path of eternal damnation.

But to solidify the deal; to ensure that those who received His love would be saved and taken care of for eternity, He demonstrated His love in the mightiest of ways. He offered up himself, in the image of his son. To be the sacrifice for those who truly love Him.

To an unbeliever, this makes no sense. But to those who have been called, and are trying to find their way to Him, we ponder this act, and based on the demonstration, and the reason behind it, we feel the love, which causes us to believe the one who has demonstrated the love.

So, when posed with the question “Jesus saves what”? One who can feel the love of God; one who has begun to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, can confidently answer:

“Jesus saves me”!

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36 KJV)

Jesus saves me from a destiny of damnation that sin condemns me to. The grace of eternal life abides in me as long as I abide in Christ.

You’ll notice I said “Jesus saves me”, not Jesus ‘saved’ me. The process of salvation is a continuous one for as long as we sojourn on this earth. Temptation, trials and tribulations are a daily occurrence. Satan’s mission to rob us of our crown of salvation is active every minute of every day. So, Christ’s effort to save us is a continuous process. A never ending gift from Him to those who receive His love.

But as “feeling loved” is a specific connection between the giver and the recipient; as “showing love” is a deliberate effort from the giver to the desired recipient, answering the question “Jesus saves what ?” Can only be answered on an individual basis.

Coming into the understanding of “What Jesus saves” is a personal and individual experience. No one can make you feel the love of God any more than anyone can force you to fall in love with someone.

It has to blossom in you. It has to awaken in you. And it is only then that you will feel it, begin to understand it, begin to walk in it, and begin to allow it grow you.

But where every human cannot fall in love with every human because we are all not connected to one another that way, all of those called by God do have the ability to love God because we ARE connected to Him that way.

God is actively doing His part. He has & continues to demonstrate His love for us, to us. Individually. Specifically.

He wants us to receive His love.
He wants us to understand His love.
He wants us to feel His love.
He wants us to share His love.

Because it is in doing all these that we will truly understand what Jesus saves.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

Share your thoughts, that you might encourage your brethren.

In Christ.
The handmaid at His feet.