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Msg #570 Wednesday, August 19, 2009
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“ that you may know the way by which you must go,
for you have not passed this way before.” (Jos 3:3-4)
Today, you are treading on unknown territory. I wonder how real such a thought is to you today? For some of us, life is entering a brand new chapter. Things like college, moving, marriage, kids being born and more all present big changes in life. Thus for many, it is very clear that life is changing and the days before them present a new reality that they have not lived through before. Now, the truth is that today is a new day for each and every one of us. This day is a new day – you have never been here before!
In light of this reality – it is wise to consider God’s counsel here in Joshua. For them it was a new day – there were entering territory that had long been promised…but they had never been there before. It was exciting, it was new…and even scary. Therefore, God gave them this interesting command - one that would help them know how to navigate this new territory. Notice with me what they were too do, and may God apply it to your life
“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” (Joshua 3:3-4)
God’s presence was to be their guide.
“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God… then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
The key was the Ark. The Ark in those days, was a symbol of God’s presence. Throughout God’s Word we discover that the way God wants to guide our lives is with His presence. Whether it be the pillar of cloud and fire in Exodus or the Spirit of God in the New Testament. The point is – God wants to guide our lives with His presence. It is an amazing thought actually, that God Himself would be your guide in life, in the things that are before you. Yet, it is true.
To be able to follow God, they needed to leave room for it.
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure.
By leaving open space for God, Joshua and the troops would be able to see what God was doing and follow Him. The danger is crowding God out of our lives. The danger is being too busy to take time to look for God’s guidance in our day. We need to develop a continual attitude of looking to the Lord for guidance throughout our day. It is something that people in times past have called “God Room” – leaving God room in life so that we can see Him, what He is doing and follow Him.
They needed God’s guidance in the new territory before them.
that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”
All of us have before us a new day, one that we have not been in before. Indeed, for some it is more pronounced because new chapters filled with changes are before them. Yet what we really need is for God to show us the way we “must go”. If you are aware of that need, can I simply remind you again, to leave God room today in your life, heart and time. Leave space, make time to look to the Lord and see what He is doing and when you see what He is doing….follow Him!
“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” (Joshua 3:3-4)
Jim
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