Preparing for the Future

Grocery Store: 

There is a story about a man who stopped in the grocery store on the way home from work to pick up a couple of items for his wife. He wandered around aimlessly for a while searching out the needed groceries. 

As is often the case in the grocery store, he kept passing this same shopper in almost every aisle. It was another father trying to shop with a totally uncooperative three-year-old boy in the cart. The first time they passed, the three-year-old was asking over and over for a candy bar. Our observer couldn’t hear the entire conversation. He just heard Dad say, “Now, Billy, this won’t take long.” As they passed in the next aisle, the three-year old’s pleas had increased several octaves. Now Dad was quietly saying, “Billy, just calm down. We will be done in a minute.” 

When they passed near the dairy case, the kid was screaming uncontrollably. Dad was still keeping his cool. In a very low voice he was saying, “Billy, settle down. We are almost out of here.” The Dad and his son reached the checkout counter just ahead of our observer. He still gave no evidence of losing control. The boy was screaming and kicking. Dad was very calming saying over and over, “Billy, we will be in the car in just a minute and then everything will be OK.” The bystander was impressed beyond words. 

After paying for his groceries, he hurried to catch up with this amazing example of patience and self-control just in time to hear him say again, “Billy, we’re done. It’s going to be OK.” He tapped the patient father on the shoulder and said, “Sir, I couldn’t help but watch how you handled little Billy. You were amazing.” Dad replied, “You don’t get it, do you?” I’m Billy!” 

Joshua 3:1–7 NKJV

1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. 7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

We see a word play of the word KNOW.

In verse 4. they would know the way.

In verse 7 they would know God was with Joshua.

In verse 10 they would know that God was with them.

Joshua 3:10 NKJV

And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites:

Unless you are living under a rock you have seen the news this week that is showing Israel’s attack on Iran and Iran’s retaliation.

It is amazing the power display of a tiny nation. And yet, time and time again we see the hand of God upon this nation. Even though the have rejected Jesus, He has not forsaken them.

However, we see that true victory only happens when they follow God. Join me today as we have a special prayer for the safety, victory, and salvation of the Jewish people. Also, lets pray for all of those who are in Israel at this time, especially

I. A Change in focus

v.1-4

For Forty years the Israelites had become accustomed to following a pillar of fire and a cloud. But now, they must turn there eyes to the Ark of the Covenant.

Exodus 25:22 NKJV

22 And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

Exodus 35:22 NKJV

22 They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord.

2. A Cleansing of the heart.

v.5

Joshua 3:5 NKJV

5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

3. An adherence to God’s plan.

We see that Joshua and the Israelites are now following God’s plan for their lives. For the moment they haver realized the error of their ways and have rejected fleshly wisdom to follow God.

4. Setting the example.

v.6

Joshua 3:6 NKJV

6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

5. God’s man, in God’s time.

Joshua 3:7 NKJV

7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.