Every Place You Set Your Foot, Prayer Walking Series: Day 16 - Commander

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

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.

Joshua 5:13-15

What a great reminder that God is not an ‘us’ against ‘them’ God. He does not come to support our agenda, but to work His own plan. And He comes, not as a warrior or secret weapon for us, but as the Commander of God’s army.

His greatest concern is not that we win against human foes, but against the unseen forces of evil who seek to destroy all of mankind—white/black, Christian/Muslim, Catholic/Protestant—He is the Creator of us all and wants all people from all nations, economic backgrounds, education levels, and religions to be saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

It was not because He hated the people of Jericho and the surrounding areas that God led the Israelites to war against them. They all descended from Noah (just as we have). But they turned their backs on their Creator and God, and pursued idols and the worship of demons. 

When God inflicted Egypt with plagues to show He is the one true God, many Egyptians believed and left with the Israelites when they escaped slavery. Now, forty years later, He showed the Philistines, Amorites, Hittites, and all the other ‘-ites’ that their gods were no match for Him either.

That is His war plan. To reveal His identity to mankind as our Father, Creator, and Lord—by miracles, devastation, prophecy, and His awesome power over all. That the world might know that He is God and come to Him.

When Joshua realized this he fell facedown in reverence and asked what God would have him do. That’s a perfect example for us. In my interview with Sheila (Sept. 27), she told how prayer walking leads us into the presence of people not like us. It's easy to be offended by others when we don’t know them, but when we hear their fears and heartaches, we begin to care about them and catch God’s vision for their salvation. 

What evidence do you see in your community that people have abandoned the one, true God? What gods are they worshiping in their quest for happiness, meaning and purpose, relief from suffering and pain? The Commander of God’s army has come to lead you to war against their enemies? How can you pray for them today?

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21

#CommanderoftheLordsarmy #Goddoesnttakesides #prayerwalking #spiritualwarfare #claimingterritory #halloween #AllSaintsDay #Joshua5  #Rom12:21