Saturday, June 9, 2012

PRESENCE OF GOD


Still thinking about Joshua 3

            If we want to discern God’s direction for our lives we need to learn to recognize God’s presence with us at all times.  This was something that really helped the Hebrews as they prepared to cross the Jordan.  The ark of the covenant was the symbol of God’s immediate presence among the Israelites.  The priests were to carry the ark before the people to lead them across the river.  God commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.  Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.  But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it” (Joshua 3:3, 4).  The ark was the reminder to the people that God was with them and was leading them.  Some scholars point out that one of the reasons the ark was to be so far out ahead of the people was so they could all see the ark and could be certain of God’s presence.  As long as the people were sure that God was with them they could go anywhere!  How would the people know where God wanted them to go?  If they just stayed behind the ark they would know where to go!  They had never been that way before but if God was with them then they could go by faith! 

            And so it is true for us as well.  When we are standing on the brink of stepping into an unknown situation, a place we have never gone before, we need to keep in the front of our minds the fact that God is with us.  Isn’t it strange how it is in such times of stress we actually feel abandoned by God?  That is a lie the devil puts into our minds to confuse us.  It is just the opposite!  God is the one who planned our route and he is the one who has brought us to this point in our lives.  How could we think he would abandon us and leave us standing alone without guidance when we need it most?  What was it Jesus said to his disciples just before ascending into heaven?  “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  I need to ask myself, “Do I really believe this?”  If this is true then I don’t need to worry about discovering God’s will for my life.  He is right here with me holding my hand and leading me in the direction he wants me to go.  I will see the way clearly when he shows it to me. 

            When I was a boy our family took a lot of camping vacations and we visited some of the most beautiful and awesome places in the country.  My dad used to take us on hikes all over the place.  We would climb to the top of waterfalls and to the top of great rocks on narrow trails.  When I look at those places today it amazes me that we took those hikes.  (My mom must have been a nervous wreck!)  But the fact was this: as long as my dad was with me I would go anywhere without fear or even a second thought.  I was confident that he knew the way and could help me get there.  If we can have such confidence in an earthly father, why would we hesitate to trust our Heavenly Father?  That’s why the psalmist was able to write, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).  If we keep God’s presence in the front of our minds we will be able to trust him to lead us.

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