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Joshua 3:2-4 ASV
(2) And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;
(3) and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
(4) Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
I believe those who’ve been involved with the military have a definite advantage over the rest of us. There are certain disciplines learned there that will carry over into many other life disciplines and choices. The commander that Jesus encountered whose son was ill had no problem with understanding the authority Jesus possessed to command his son’s healing. When it comes to the order and the discipline required to follow, execute and anticipate success, these things will only transpire as directions are heeded carefully and quickly.
A book I enjoyed looking at so much as a child was a collection of pictures from my Dad’s experience in the military. He was drafted into the Army just after the Korean War and had to serve for only two years, but during that period of time there were skills gained and disciplines learned that directly affected his later successes both in the military and in his personal life. He learned how to draft and later, when it became necessary to provide plans for church buildings, went ahead and drew them himself. From the order and structure of the Army’s organization he learned to not only follow, but to take others to a place of significance as he provided the necessity of an excellent structure for them, also. Because of his embrace of a way of leadership that not only empowered him, but those who would follow, there have been countless followers that he has effectively directed to their own experience of passage through the significant provision of a God that just needs a willing heart and a heeded command.
This was a day for the children of Israel very similar to some forty years prior when they were fleeing from the pursuing Egyptians. At that time they were merely following an emotion and a man that had been incredibly impressed by a miracle working God. Since then, however, they had gone through their own experiences with this God and learned the ways of discipline and diligence in making it through their time in the wilderness. Those who had doubted the promise and direction of their God back then had since perished and remaining were only those who would willingly listen to the simple directives of a man who would let them make the advance toward the waters edge that would activate their God’s power. It wouldn’t just be Joshua now, but it would be each one of them with a great expectancy for the power that would follow their faithful obedience.
There are some simple directions from the Word for our steps today. There is a need to rise and follow when the Spirit is seen to be moving, and there is a need to not press beyond the distance that will allow Him to still be seen before us. There will be a need for patience, trust and simple rest in the ability of our Commander and leader. Much can be expected for this day and miracles await the simple adherence to His direction. He will lead to the waters edge where we’ll get to see demonstration of what happens when His Word is followed and His ways embraced.
