THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR
The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name. (Exod. 15:3 ESV)
The Battle for Jericho was about to be launched. The people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. (Num. 13:28 ESV). The Lord pointed to the city and told Joshua, the Israeli leader: “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. (Jos. 6:2 ESV). The Lord expects Joshua to see with the eyesight of faith, not being intimidated by the present, but trusting the future.
Ummm, well…okay Lord what’s your plan?
You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. (Jos. 6:3). Okay, kinda weird, but…what’s next, Lord?
Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. (Jos. 6:4).
Lord, you’re kiddin’ – right? This is sounding fairytale-ish.
And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down… (Jos. 6:5).
Seven priests, marching around the city and blowing trumpets!? Wait a second! This is crazy-making talk! But Joshua does not flinch, nor hesitate and he gets directly to the point with – the priests.
So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.” (Jos. 6:6). Imagine you’re a priest, and Joshua picks you to carry out this mission. What do you do? Waver? Dawdle? Make an excuse?
What do the Israelite priests do? Just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD went forward…(Jos. 6:8). The priests did not hang back, question, vacillate, protest – they obeyed!
I went on many special operations in the Marines, and we did not act like this. We squirmed, we groaned, we grumped, even protesting if it was our turn, or not. Often we yearned to engage the enemy, and just as often we thought the mission was silly, or too dangerous. These Israelite priests were solid – rock solid.
A priest is a sold out, spiritual warrior. He trusts the Lord, without question. They aren’t fanatics, but they are dedicated, because they see like the Lord sees. They trust the future, and they are not afraid of it, because the Lord has assured them, he knows it.
How did they get to be this way? The Lord trained them. He’s a great Drill Instructor.
Israel had come out of 40 long years of wilderness wandering. Before that, they had been in bondage to Egypt, for 400 years, it took time to dishearten them. They learned Egyptian theology, and were marginally religious. They forgot about the Lord, and how to interact with him. They had no spiritual direction, just Egyptian religious ceremonies.
After 400 years of this mush, the Lord promised to: I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'” (Exod. 6:8). Sweet! Sounds great! How did they respond? “…they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. (Exod. 6:9). They were flattened. They would not believe the good news.
Does this stop the Lord? Nope. Remember he sees the future.
The LORD said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” (Exod. 6:26). The word ‘hosts’ is the word armies, a military term. That is organized warfare, if you’re wondering. Slip of the tongue you ask? I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt… (Exod. 7:4 ESV). There it is again: ‘hosts’ = armies, warfare, battles, etc.
Yeah, but God just is speaking metaphorically…right?
It took Egypt 400 years to hammer the Israelites into submission. It took one day for the Lord to get Israel out of Egypt. Then it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel. The Wilderness journey, was the spiritual Boot Camp, and Basic Training, for taking the theology of Egypt, out of the Israeli mind. It took Egypt 400 years to change Israel. It took 40 years, for God to change Israel. He shaped them into a tough fighting force. Quite an accomplishment. Egypt made them slaves, the Lord made them warriors.
Not only were they a formidable army, they were also spirit-filled, and God led. They were the Lord’s vanguard to accomplish impossible tasks. They were spirit-led people of faith. Nice history lesson, right? Ancient history – or still true today?
The Lord has not changed, and today he still moves spirit-led people to do impossible things, often by unconventional means. That means you, if you are a genuine believer. Getting scared? Is the Lord tapping you on the shoulder and telling you, he’s got a task for you, that only you can do? Get your horn ready, you may get a call soon.
What does the Lord say about your future?
But you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God. (Isa. 61:6 ESV). That’s you my friend. Like Joshua directed the priests, so the Lord will direct you. Will you stand up and: I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa. 6:8 ESV).
THE WARRIOR’S PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
We love you and your great vision for us. Because we love you, we wish to be your hands and your feet. Our delight in you, needs a dynamic vigor, and we must have you renew a right spirit in us (Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Ps. 51:10 ESV).
Help us to encounter you in deeper and more profound ways. Help us yearn for you like the deer panting after water: As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (Ps. 42:1 ESV). Let our time with you be meaningful and enriching, so that nothing can replace that in our life. Let nothing steal our spiritual joy.
We want you to be so satisfying in our lives, that no earthly thing can compare to your extraordinary presence. Your blessings are so delightful because they come from our kind and generous Heavenly Father, who moved heaven and earth to win us to Himself. We want to serve with eternal joy, and determined effort.
After all Lord you are: wise in heart and mighty in strength– who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? (Job 9:4 ESV). We pray for your glory in our lives, in Jesus’ name. Amen.