Text:
Joshua 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
15 And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua
did so.
Title:
“America Needs a Good Footwashing ”
Introduction: Israel had crossed the Jordon River. It was time to enter into the promised land. Joshua was the new “Commander and Chief” of Israel’s army. In the today’s text, I picture Joshua in devotional
contemplation. He needs wisdom. The strong city of Jericho is a the first obstacle in their path. How is he to fight this battle?
Joshua lifts up his eyes and sees a man in the open field with a sword drawn. He asked (and I paraphrase) “Are you are our side, or are you
on the side of our enemies?” The man replies, “Wrong question. Let me be the one to ask the questions. Are you on my side? All of Heaven follows my leadership, will you? If you do not allow me to lead you, than must I come up against you!”
If I had been there, I would have told Joshua, “ you had better listen to that man standing out there in the field because...”
1. Because He is God.
The man in the field was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He demanded worship. Only God can be worshipped. Joshua would take off his shoes, because he was in the presence of God.
There is only one true God. He is the God of the Bible. The forefathers of our nation believed this. Read the documents of American history.
Today, God of the Bible stands before America. Will we listen to him?
The ten commandments are once again etched in stone. According to round one of the battle being waged in Montgomery, Alabama, the “Man in the field” is not a welcomed sight.
Another reason to listen the man in the open field is:
2. Because God has a Sword in his hand.
If we reject God as our God in America, we are indeed in dire trouble. The Sword of the Lord will ultimately come down upon us. Hurricane Andrew will, once again, be laying at our doorstep.
How quickly we forget 9/11.
We will have much more to fear than middle eastern terrorist.
And my final reason to listen the man in the open field is:
3. Because you cannot accomplish what you need to accomplish without his help.
The arm of flesh will fail us. But, if we allow the God of the Bible to lead us, as our forefathers once did, the enemies of our land, will fall before
us. God will be with us in battle. The walls of Jericho will come tumbling down.
Conclusion:
May we be “One Nation under God,” once again!
May we still say “In God we trust,” once again!
Perhaps, it may be too late to save America, but it may not be too late for you and your home. Let me compel you to say, as Joshua once did in Joshua 24:15.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
