The Man In The Way.

Sadly, on a few occasions in my life, I have had to make a stand for something that I knew I was going to lose out on. But the stand had to be made and the loss had to be taken. Because the fight wasn’t about me. It was about someone else. And I had to go to make the stand, face the opposition, and take the hits so that an innocent party would win. And, boy, am I so glad that I did it. For the person that I was standing in place off won every time.

You see, facing fights like these, even if you know that you’re going to lose, is not about revenge, or superiority, or might, or justice.  This sort of a fight is different. It’s about a principle. Win or lose, you have to stand and fight.

But, it was also during these difficult times that I discovered new things about myself. I found new strengths that I never knew I had. These strengths were difficult to discover. For they involved a lot of tears, a lot of stress and a massive sense of isolation. I have never felt so isolated in all my life. But it’s only from the depths of our total darkness that God can shine a flicker of the tiniest light. And we can begin to feel a sense of an ending.

Joshua faced this scenario as he led the Children of Israel out of the wilderness and on toward the Promised Land. For as they were heading toward Jericho he met someone on the way.

Joshua Ch5 (13)Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" (14)"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"

A lot of conversations and debate have taken place about who this “Commander” was. But all learned people agree that this was God himself in the flesh. This is evident from verse 14 were the Commander accepts the obeisance given to Him as Joshua fell down and worshipped Him. But Joshua still didn’t see God’s will. He still had a “them’uns versus us’ns” mindset. This needed to be dispelled with and so The Commander stopped Joshua on the way and reminded him of why He was actually there. God was there, not for Joshua nor Jericho, but for His own will to be performed. Whatever that may be.

We all come across various scenarios in life that challenge us. And I will be the first to put my hand up and say that I failed at almost every one of them. I failed because I hadn’t learned my lessons. I had not yet learned that the outcomes of these scenarios was not about me.

You see, most times, the challenge is not about “us”. It is entirely about God’s will being carried out. Yes, God is on our side. But He’s on our side for His own purposes. We are just playing parts in His plan and we must remember that. It is not about our side, or their side. With God, there is only “His” side. “His” plan. And “His” will.

Revelation Ch3 (19) Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.

Hebrews Ch12 (5) And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, (6) because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son."

(These verses from the Book of Hebrews are actually being quoted by the writer from Proverbs ch3 v11-12).

And as I journeyed through my life I had a lot of encounters along the way. We all do. And I failed in a very large part of my journey. And even though I rarely looked for it, God was always there guiding, chiding and correcting. Just as Joshua found outside Jericho. And so, I made my decisions moment by moment. But God added to His kingdom soul by soul.

 

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side - Saviour, we are Thine!


Email - TheseLivelyOracles@hotmail.com
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Location: 1 A1, Belfast BT1 5YE, UK

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