Who’s Number One?

In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out. Joshua 3:6

I recently saw a series of comic strips that portrayed different episodes of history as if they were sporting events. The one that really caught my attention depicted a band of soldiers excitedly huddled together in front of the camera with their right index fingers held triumphantly in the air, announcing to the world that they were number one and could not be defeated. The problem with the scene was that it was before the battle and the leader of this particular band of men was General Custer.

This comic illustrated the danger of following the wrong leader into the wrong battle.

God constantly communicates to us men the message that we need to allow him to go out ahead of us in everything we do.

Israel was at the threshold of crossing the Jordan River and moving on to conquer the land God had promised them. If the men of Israel were like most of the men I know, they were tense, nervous, excited, and ready to go and do great things for their God.

The temptation at times like this is to rely on our own strength and enthusiasm. But just to remind the Israelites who was really leading, God had the priests go first, carrying the Ark of the Covenant. The men who were about to charge into battle had to follow the ones who represented them before God.

Do you want success and blessing in the things God has called you to do? Then slow down and let him go out before you, knowing that he has promised you victory.

God, teach me to get behind you as you go out ahead of me in the battle of life.