Obeying Strange Orders
Are you confused and not sure what to do or who to listen to?
Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.
“The Commander of the Lord’s Army (said), “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy…march…blow trumpets…shout…” (Joshua 5:15, 16, NIV).
Armies are trained to be strategic. Secrecy regarding attack plans is crucial. Strange codes are regularly used to confuse the enemy. Reading God’s instructions to Joshua, we might be led to believe that these are the instructions of militarily unschooled amateur. Take off your shoes? Carry a large holy box? March around the walled city seven days without attacking, thus warning the enemy of your army’s size?
But Joshua had spent long years as second-in-command to Moses who—through trial and error—had learned to trust a God whose seemingly confusing orders nonetheless always produced the desired outcome.
Obediently following after God may mean a life different from what is the cultural norm. Choosing simplicity over extravagance seems anti-success in a society shouting, “what you have proves who you are.” Living humbly, seeking righteousness and justice, even mourning do not appear to be lifestyle habits of the rich and famous, but Jesus said those habits will bring blessing and deep satisfaction.
The outcome of Joshua’s obedience is two-fold: “The wall collapsed” and “the Lord was with Joshua.” When God gives direction that seems unusual, we are wise to be quiet before Him, look deeply into scripture and seek counsel from a wise community. What seems like impenetrable walls can be overcome by trust in and obedience to our Sovereign Commander.
Father, my skeptical nature often makes me doubt your orders. I wonder if you truly know me and my situation. My questions prove my lack of faith, but I want to trust you more.
Questions: What are the priorities in your life? What does Jesus mean when he talks about living humbly?
About the Author Marilyn Ehle
I recently graduated from college with a B.S. in Accounting, but I feel God wants me to be a more than an Accountant. He really wants me to travel the world and help people, but I am totally afraid of how my future will turn out. I came from a rough background and security is what I desire. I worked hard in college to make sure I would be able to obtain a great paying job so my children wouldn’t have to suffer the same lifestyle I had to as a kid. I guess I must trust in him but it will take a lot of strength.
My husband died suddenly 31/2 years ago after a God-led move to a brand new community…my 3 kids did not necessarily agree it was the right thing to do, but once we’d decided we would go, we could only hold on for the ride! It was totally orchestrated by God. But I did not expect that the new life we were so excited to begin was going to be his with the Lord and mine still here on earth. It has been very hard, but God has been there growing me up in brand new ways. I returned to school to pursue a nursing degree and then, this summer, felt God saying it is time to change direction. Because I feel that I have always done that and not stayed “committed” like others have, I felt that I was once again “a failure.” Yet, this is a part of my “testing” and it is time to overcome the enemy of my thoughts and my soul. I have sought the Lord daily, asking Him to guide. Thank you for today’s devotional. His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts, so I choose to believe that, even though this doesn’t look like it seems it should, I will keep my eyes on the Commander in Chief–our Jesus. He just might come today!!!!
Thank you, sister Marilyn. This is very true & thanks for reminding us of that. Sometimes we are challenged to make decisions that don’t seem ‘logical’ to this world or to the human mind. I pray God will help me (& others here) to do what is ‘best’, rather than what is necessarily just ‘logical’ according to the world. God bless.
Trusting God is easy when things are going my way. When something comes up, esp which way to go, it’s another story. So many times i don’t experience His promises in my life and the waiting is awful. i need things to be crystal clear about a move i thought i wanted to make with a man i’ve been struggling with for the past 5 yrs. Do i go or do i stay? The anxiety is almost unbearable. Right now all i can do is do what’s in this day….that’s in His orders.
I have been struggling. I want so much to give up to the Lord a problem I have been having. It is affecting my marriage and relationship with a wonderful man I love and have given my heart. I connected with this devotional. The situation I am dealing with is like non I have encountered. I pray I can give this to Jesus and to be obedient and trust the Lord.
God use the simple of things to confuse the wise sometimes when he speaks the things he tells us to do seems foolish but,when carried out the end result is great. When Naaman was told dip in Jordon River he question it why not other river. but he was cleanse after obeying GOD.
Amen Barbara. We are moving in 10 days to a city where we used to live. Numerous folks at our church here said they’d pray against our move. It became obvious that aside from being missed they were also fearful of the changes our going would make in the ministry of the church. So it isn’t just affecting us but is affecting many others who had come to rely upon God having placed us there to do certain ministries ‘for ever,’ in some opinions. This is not a criticism but is an observation that any change affects everyone w/in our sphere of influence…..so like Barbara IF we KNOW it is at HIS urging and leading then our confidence in verbalizing this will and can help others whose lives our acts of obedience also shake up and challenge. Acts of obedience cause ALL of us to grow in our hope, faith and trust in HIM.
Looking forward to reading other comments on this subject.
Again thanks for your thot provoking and honest sharing Barbara.
Andi
Obedience to God is often looked at by others in some questioning ways.
Recently my trust is God’s grace and mercy has been taken to a deeper level and this has physically required moving in temporarily with my son and his family.
So many around me have ridiculed me, questioned me and cannot believe I have done this,for I am normally an independant,”survivor” kind of woman.
But I know that this is exactly what I need to do right now and I believe God has not given me any other directive.
Some days I feel as if the confetti is still in the air and has not settled.
I am just trusting in Him daily and I see that He IS working in so many ways!
Tomorrow is a very new day,He has shown me, and today’s work is the harvest!