( Joshua 3 v 5; 5 v 3; 6 v 20 )
One of the problems with reading the Old Testament
Is that it can have a "long ago and far away" feel.
Until we realise that there is a continuing story
His story-history.
And we are told that if we do not learn from history
Then we will repeat the failures of those who also did not learn.
Here in the Kingdom of God, there is history which if we will pay attention to it's lessons
Will help us in our walk.
Why? Because there is a battle going on.
And we need to be ready.
All around you, the enemy seeks to sow doubt, discord, lies and distort the truth
Primarily about who God is
But also about who you are and humankind in general.
His chief weapon is fear.
And we need a strategy to "deal".
Let's look at history.
Joshua was on the verge of crossing the Jordan, and he knew there were battles to be fought and won
Because he had seen it before with his friend Caleb. Fear had already entered the camp through the 10 other spies.
For a start, there was a whole city to be taken - a stronghold to be brought down.
Then there were "tribes" to be driven out ( nothing to do with race - everything to do with ingrained cultural wickedness and oppression )
This was going to take some preparation-..
But in the end it was not rocket science.
1. Consecrate yourself (wholesale devotion to Jesus)
2. Be circumcised ( deal with the wrong attitudes and beliefs within our hearts )
3. Worship every day and listen for the "trumpet sound" ( You never know when the Spirit will prompt you to speak, pray, help etc )
And when the moment comes, you must pour out all the opposites of the enemy
Love instead of hate and fear, faith instead of doubt, truth instead of lies, good things for evil things.
Just like Jesus said we should.