HOLY GROUND, HOLY LIFE

HOLY GROUND, HOLY LIFE

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. —Joshua 5:13-15

            The Israelites have crossed the Jordan River and are now in the Land that the Lord had promised them.  Joshua came into contact with “the commander of the army of the Lord.”  Who is this?  Joshua “fell on his face to the earth.”  He then worshipped this commander and was told to “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.  

            Only God is to be worshipped.  When the Apostle John fell down at the feet of an angel to worship him he was told not to do so but to worship only God (Revelation 19:10; 22:9).  Only God is to receive worship and He alone.  So who is this that Joshua is worshipping?  Obviously it has to be God appearing to Joshua in bodily form.

            There is only one other place where someone is told to take off their sandals because where they were standing was holy.  That was when God appeared to Moses— “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”  Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”  At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:5-6).  Jesus had said, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58).

            How awesome is it to be standing in the presence of Almighty God?  We are told that “Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”  It is awesome to be in His presence!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS2Okrg2QU0&list=RDpS2Okrg2QU0&start_radio=1   

            Now consider this— He who is so awesome resides in every single follower of His!  Brother and sister, the awesome God Almighty who appeared to Moses and Joshua and Abraham now resides in us through His Holy Spirit!  “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (I Peter 1:16).  “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (I Corinthians 6:19-20).  May we do so!Dear Father may I faithfully live a holy life to honor You.  May it be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.