Sunday 29 May 2016

Miracles are born out of Rest

Joshua
Now Jericho was shut tightly because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter. The Lord told Joshua, “See, I am about to defeat Jericho for you, along with its king and its warriors. Have all the warriors march around the city one time; do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. When you hear the signal from the ram’s horn, have the whole army give a loud battle cry. Then the city wall will collapse and the warriors should charge straight ahead.”

Joshua was leading the children of Israel to enter the promised land Canaan but they had to first conquer the city of Jericho. Battle of Jericho, in my opinion, is a well-illustrated story of how miracles are born out of rest.


Now, resting doesn't mean no work. God still told Joshua and the Israelites to march around the city one time each day for six days while seven priests carrying the ark of the Covenant, and to march seven times on the seventh day, before He brings down the city wall for them.


God expects us to work, not to toil. 


Who would have thought to fight Jericho, the Israelites would only need to march, carry the ark of the Covenant and blow trumpets? To understand more about how thick and strong the wall of Jericho is, hop over to this website https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/the-walls-of-jericho/, if you are too lazy to read the full-of-reasearches-and-explanations article about the wall, just know that archaeologist have verified that "humanly speaking, it was impossible for the Israelites to penetrate the impregnable bastion of Jericho."


But faith and rest in the Lord have resulted the children of Israel that miracle.
Joshua and the Israelites camped along the river of Jordan before the siege and throughout their camping days, Joshua and the Israelites spent ample time with the Lord, constantly being in the Lord's presence and guidance on how they should enter the promised land of Canaan. It was recorded that Joshua sent two spies to spy on Jericho and when they returned, they told Joshua, "Surely the Lord is handing over all the land to us! All who live in the land are cringing before us!" - Joshua 2:24


They didn't overwhelm themselves in pity and being discouraged by the stronghold of Jericho, instead they were charged up and confident that the Lord is with them when they fight and they didn't toil in preparing themselves for the siege, instead they lingered in the Lord's rest and presence.

JOSHUA 3:5 Joshua told the people, “Ritually consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will perform miraculous deeds among you.”


Don't underestimate the power of resting in the Lord and lingering in His presence. Do your part of the work and let God do His part wondrously, while you rest in Him, being fully confident that He has taken care of it all.


Psalms 127:1-2 
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor uselessly. Unless the LORD guards the city, its security forces keep watch uselessly. It is useless to get up early and to stay up late, eating the food of exhausting labor— truly he gives sleep to those he loves.


Be blessed always. 

2 comments:

  1. Excellent post. Is this sermon by pastor Kong?

    Cheers,
    ThomasAbeesh.com

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    Replies
    1. Hi, thanks for reading, oh but this is not his sermon. But I do remember Pst Kong preached about entering into God's rest some years ago though, that's when I first time heard about God's rest message :)

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