Last time, we talked about the first command Joshua gave the camp.
The first time the messengers went throughout the camp, they were commanding the people to prepare physically to take the land. The next message was to prepare mentally.
Consecrate/Sanctify Yourselves
The word used here is "qudash" meaning to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate, to be set apart.
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines consecrate as "dedicated to a sacred purpose." Sanctify is "to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use".
Israel had spent years in the wilderness learning to be God's people. He fed, clothed them, and took care of their every need. Now, their sacred purpose was to show God's goodness, glory, and power as they possessed the promised land. They were about to go from passively receiving what God had for them to active participation in taking the promised land.
When Israel left Egypt, God destroyed their enemies from behind. In the wilderness, He camped in the middle of them. Now He was going before them. They had to change the way they thought and adjust their lifestyle to reflect that. This was their new "new". Even when they didn't fully understand how it would work, they needed to dedicate themselves to moving with God in a new way. God gave them time to adjust their thinking and set their mind; to consecrate themselves to the new God was doing. Their purpose hadn't changed but the way it would manifest had.
A Time to Dedicate Yourself
Just as Joshua sent messengers into the camp saying consecrate yourselves, today we are hearing the same message. We have been given a period of time to dedicate ourselves to his sacred purpose.
He wants us to get behind Him 100%, to follow Him as He takes out the enemies standing in our way.
Our sacred purpose is much like Israel's was: to show the world God's goodness, glory, and power. I believe part of the "new" we will experience is God going before us.
Provisions will arrive before we see the need. We will receive answers to problems before they arise. Connections and opportunities will come before we know we want them.
It is extremely important that you identify and dedicate yourselves to your sacred purpose.
Each of you has an assignment to show the world around you God's goodness and glory. You have to be alert so you won't squander the provision because you don't see the need yet. You don't want to ignore connections and opportunities because you don't see how they fit into your life right now. You need to be prepared to stand in His glory and anointing, Your gifts, skills, abilities, and anointing is needed in the upcoming great harvest of souls. Decide now you are all in, dedicated to doing your part in seeing God's purpose fulfilled.
Your "New"
"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:19 NLT
Joshua told the people to dedicate themselves because tomorrow the Lord would do amazing wonders and miracles among them. These were people who lived with the miraculous daily. Every day they received mana, beheld the cloud by day, and fire by night. Yet, God was saying, "You ain't seen nothing yet. Starting tomorrow I'm going to show you amazing things".
And He did! He split the Jordan and dropped the walls of Jericho. He went before them and gave them the promised land.
Your "new" is starting the same as Israel's did. You have been given a time set apart to prepare and dedicate yourselves to fulfill God's purpose in the earth. It is a time for resting and for choosing. Are you choosing to dedicate yourselves to faith or fear? Are you choosing to believe God will make a pathway through the wilderness of this pandemic or allowing depression to settle in on you? These are choices you have to make day by day, sometimes hour by hour. At least I do.
A perfect example of this happened yesterday. I found out Steve had not filled out the correct paperwork to get unemployment benefits during the restaurant shut down. Unfortunately, my first reaction was not what it should have been. The Holy Spirit stopped me by asking, "Who are you depending on; Jehovah Jireh-the Lord who supplies, or the government?" I had to dedicate myself to choosing faith over fear several times during the day.
What's next?
I can't help but wonder what is coming. His "new" thing is so big and so important, that He allowed most of the whole world to shut down. We are being given the unique opportunity to prepare and adjust our thinking so we can embrace and excel in the "new" that is coming.
The bible tells us the whole world will see His Glory. The world has been seeing the glory of the enemy, fear, greed, and death.
What do you think God's glory being seen in the earth will look like? Can you picture it in your mind's eye? If you can, share it with us! I'd love to hear what God is showing you about these times.
We love you and are praying for you!
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2 comments
Thanks for catching that, Donna. I’ll change it. It has been loud in my spirit recently.
Thank you and I’m glad you are finding comfort. God bless.
Jodee,
Thank you for jodelights and the sharing of God’s word. I have been finding comfort in the Word, your blog, bible study and another devotional. They all seem to be on the same page everyday. Funny how that works. You quoted Isaish 43:19 but wrote that it was 49:19, one of my favorites so I noticed.
A sister in our common faith, Donna Williams/Conroe, TX