Consecrate Yourselves

Joshua 3:5b “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

What do you first think when I mention the biblical character Joshua? Maybe the song, “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho”? Or maybe the words of Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous”? Me too. That’s why I’ve enjoyed digging further into the account of Joshua and pondering some lessons from what happens before and after the epic battle we all know so well.

Remember that when the curtains open on the book of Joshua, Moses has died and God commissions Joshua to lead His people to conquer the Promised Land. And yes, God encourages Joshua several times to be strong and courageous and He reminds him just as many times to obey His commands so that the Israelites will prosper and find success.

So Joshua assumes command, spies explore Jericho and return with information for battle, and Israel miraculously crosses the Jordan River on dry ground. It is here that the entire army undergoes circumcision to renew their covenant with God.

“Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5)

When God Does His Mighty Work

When God does His mighty work, our job is to consecrate ourselves. God doesn’t need our help, but He chooses to use us. Our job is not to “help” Him, but to ready our hearts for service.

Here, nestled between the banks of a miracle and the brink of a battle, the Israelites observe their first Passover in the Promised Land with bread made from its produce.

God’s Perspective

Joshua tops off these amazing experiences by meeting an angel. Not just any angel, but the commander of the LORD’s army (Joshua 5:13-15).

Joshua asks the angel, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”

“No,” the angel replies.

Which is an interesting answer. Because Joshua didn’t ask a “yes-or-no” question. He narrowed the situation down to an either-or scenario that required a “yes” or “no” answer. The reality is completely other.

No, Joshua.

Stop looking with human eyes.

Your perspective is not the reality.

So the answer is completely about God.

When the angel gives his answer, Joshua falls to his face.

And what does he do?

He worships.

When we finally see God’s perspective, we fall to our face and worship.

Joshua asks the commander of the LORD’s army what is his message.

What kind of message would you expect from God at a time like this? My guess is that Joshua expected to receive instructions. God eventually gives him detailed instructions, but first He instructs Joshua to remove his shoes. He is on holy ground.

Joshua 6 details the battle and the resulting defeat of Jericho that displays God’s miraculous power. Though Joshua may have considered the strategy odd, he and the Israelites obey and the walls of the enemy fall down.

When God is about to do a mighty work that only He can do, His people need to consecrate themselves, see God’s perspective, worship, recognize His holiness, and respond in obedience.