Title: Follow the priest / Joshua 3:1-6
Contents The Israelites passed through the wilderness and gathered in front of the Jordan River. Across the river is the city of Jericho, where spies have already been sent to check the virginity. Now, all you have to do is cross the Jordan River and march to Jericho. They depart from Siddim before marching, waiting for God's command in front of the Jordan River. Then, when God's command was given, they went straight to the Jordan River. Of course, the Jordan River stopped and they crossed the Jordan River safely.
Today's Word gives us the answer to how we can overcome when we are faced with problems and difficulties, and when we want to start something. In order to become victorious believers by applying the principles of today's text, we want to discover the will of God hidden in the Word and share His grace.
First, we must understand the will of God.
Why did the Israelites move from Shittim to the Jordan and camp and camp on the east side of the Jordan River? It was waiting for God's command. After hearing the reports of the spies, Joshua waits for the Lord's will for the last time. Joshua is a man who waits for God's command in everything. The victors of faith are not those who do their own thing. Those who do the will of the Lord. When the command of the Lord is given, they begin to act. Obviously we have to win.
This is the most neglected thing among believers today. You don't just have to say "I believe!" and move on. True faith is believing and starting when the Lord's command is given. The Bible is clear about this. (Matthew 7:21) “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Mark 3:35) “Whoever does the will of God is my brother. You are my sister and my mother" is a famous saying.
Dear saints, Is what you are doing now according to the will of the Lord? If not, turn quickly and wait for the will of the Lord. Otherwise, you cannot win. Can't succeed. (1 John 5:14) "This is the boldness we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." If we only ask and do according to the Lord's will, the Lord will surely grant it. Therefore, it is essential to understand the will of the Lord before doing anything.
He tells you to follow the priest.
Verse 3, “He commanded the people, saying, “When you see the Levite priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, leave your place and follow him.” Actually, this is not a simple command to follow the priest, but rather to follow the priest who carries the ark of the covenant. In other words, even if you are a priest, you can say that if you do not carry the Ark of the Covenant, you must not follow it.
What is the difference between carrying the Ark of the Covenant and not carrying it? It refers to what is in the Word of God and what is not very important to the Word. It means that the priest in the Word must obey and follow. The power to make the people follow is not the title of priest, but the ark of the covenant that the priest is carrying, that is, the authority of the Word.
The Ark of the Covenant did not always go ahead of the Israelites. In Joshua 6, when God's people went around Jericho, armed soldiers stood in the front, followed by the priests holding the trumpets, followed by the ark of the covenant, followed by the people and the rear army. That is, the Ark of the Covenant stood in the middle. This was a way to protect the Ark of the Covenant. It does not matter whether the Ark of the Covenant stands in the front or in the middle. It is important to walk with God. However, the positions of the priests and the people are different. The priests always preceded them, followed by the people.
Dear saints,
Do you want your work to be successful? Do you want to be blessed? Please follow the pastor who nurtures with the Word. If you see pastoring according to the word (when you see the ark of the covenant being lifted), follow it. Do not follow him because he is a pastor, but follow what he preaches because it belongs to God. Surely, God will bless those saints and give them victory.
Keep your distance and follow me.
(4), "But let the distance between you and them be about two thousand cubits, and do not come near it, and you will know the way you should go, for you have not passed this road before." You must understand these words well. A rough estimate of 2,000 cubits is about 1 km. If you follow from behind about 1km, you don't know what's going in front of you. Of course, anyone who touches the Ark of the Covenant will die. In 1 Chronicles 13:10, Uzzah dies while touching the Ark of the Covenant. So you are saying this. But it has a different meaning.
We are close enough to call God our Father. (Romans 8:15) “You have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption, so we cry, Abba, Father.” But at the same time, “God dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16). ) has a saying. He is a kind person, but he is not someone who can be rude. The Lord must be followed with sufficient reverence.
Dear saints,
What kind of problem, job, event, or business do you look like? Please consider and obey the will of the Lord. Please obey the word of your servant. However, please bury your servant's flaws in the Word and obey. You will definitely succeed. You will definitely win. May blessings and victories be yours.