3/17/2021 Joshua 5:8-15

“Take off your shoes”

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 5:15. The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

OBSERVATION

Summary
The Israelites observed Passover after being circumcised, and the commander of the Lord’s army appeared before Joshua and commanded him to take off his sandals.

Who is God
• God fights for His obedient children.
• God wants to be humble before Him.

APPLICATION

To the people of Israel who obeyed circumcision and observed Passover, God teaches the secret of victory. An angel of the Lord, the commander of the Lord’s army, met Joshua in person. This means that the war Israel faces is now the war of God since Israelites belonged to God by obedience. And the commander of the Lord’s army tells Joshua to take off his sandals from his feet. Only slaves took off their sandals at that time. “Take off your shoes! “This command means for Joshua to be low and humble in the position of a slave before God. I think it teaches us a very important lesson that leads to victory. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you in due time.” 1 Peter 5: 6.

God gives grace to the humble and exalts the lowly in the heart. Humility is to give up self-assertion and to rely on God entirely. It is the lifestyle of Jesus’s Beatitudes. When Jesus humbled himself until death by obedience, God lifted Him above all things in heaven and earth.

As Adam’s sin is inherited, arrogance and pride have been the rooted natures of human beings. When God gives us success and prosperity, human beings become easily prideful instead of giving God glory. “No one from the east or the west or the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.” Ps. 75:6-7. God gave Joshua great honor and success in front of the neighboring countries and among the Israel people. In such a situation, however, God tells Joshua to be lower like a slave. “Take off your shoes.” “Lower yourself like a slave.” Humility leads us to God. So humility is also leading us to victory. Learn to be more humble before God and man.

• Sin to void: I repent that my heart sometimes grows prideful with the situation.
• Promise to hold: God honors the humble.
• Action to take place: Be humble under God’s mighty hands.

PRAYER

Father God, let my heart be filled only with you, Lord and let me enjoy quiet satisfaction in your presence. I want to remain always as your humble servant. Grant me your heart. Amen.