Leader-in-waiting

Leader-in-waiting

So there they were.  All the Israelites.  Waiting.  Waiting for Joshua, with Jericho looming in front of them.  Echoes of Moses and the Red Sea resonated in the hearts of this next generation, as they walked over dry ground where the River Jordan had just been overflowing its banks.  They had encouraged Joshua to be strong and very courageous.  They acknowledged him as the new leader, even before the Jordan River parted before their very eyes.

And then Joshua met "the captain of the host of the Lord."

"And he fell on his face to the earth and bowed down and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?'  And the captain of the Lord's host said to Joshua,

"Remove your sandals from your feet,

for the place where you are standing is holy."  

And Joshua did so.  (Joshua 5:14,15)

Why this encounter?

When Moses was commissioned, he was told to take off his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground.  It was a reminder that, ultimately, he was standing before a holy God. Joshua needed this same commissioning before the mission.  Indeed, how could Joshua serve unless he was sent?  He, too, needed to understand that there is always a greater purpose than just the one at hand.  He was no longer a leader-in-waiting.  

He was standing on holy ground.

Then came the capture of Jericho.

All that marching.  Every day.  For seven days. 

Israel had at least 40,000 armed men.(Joshua 4:13).  It was quite a procession!

And while God had already told Joshua that the city was given into his hand,

Joshua made some strategic decisions within the sovereign will of God.  God had told him that they should shout only after the long blast of the trumpet.  

“But Joshua commanded the people, saying: You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard; nor let a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I tell you, “Shout!”  Then you shall shout!”  (Joshua 6: 10).

 Joshua's personal responsibilities dove-tailed wonderfully with the sovereign will of God.    Joshua understood the bigger picture - God's holiness displayed to the nations.  But he also had liberty to lead, under God's sovereign purposes. 

He was standing on holy ground.

God had given Joshua a personal footnote to be added to all of His promises.  A tangible reminder of God's presence with him.  

Standing on holy ground.

I pray for pastors-  that they would remember that they are standing on holy ground.

 A reminder of the depth and responsibility of their calling,

and a reminder that our Holy God is with them.