Emmanuel Day 12

Emmanuel, God with the Seeking

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”

So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

Joshua 5:13-15

Have you ever found yourself in between a rock and a hard place, as they say? Or maybe it feels as though your greatest need of today is to be in a place of perfect strength and provision, and instead find yourself in weakness, wonder, and lack? Or maybe, like Joshua, you’ve just taken over for a beloved leader in some way, and you’re feeling the pressure to do things well. Maybe you have a new job, a new calling, are entering into a new family, or are making the Christmas dinner for the first time on your own. Whether you’re talking about giving birth or living life, transition can definitely be one of the hardest moments to endure.

Much in the same way as their escape from Egypt, the entrance into the promise land began with God confirming Israel’s steps by splitting apart the waters so that they could march across miraculously on dry ground. Heading into a season of long-awaited battles, strength seemed to be their greatest need, but instead God called them into further weakness and searching. Imagine being Joshua. You’re the new leader who’s responsible for bringing a massive group of desert-wanderers into the promise land, and God gives a command to make sure everyone is circumcised. If you obey, you’ll be led into days of pain, vulnerability, and weakness. Quickly following the order of circumcision, the manna ceases, and suddenly an entire generation who has never had to provide food for themselves is having to learn a whole new way of life. In the middle of all this, you lift your eyes and look ahead, and all you can see before you are the seemingly impenetrable walls of Jericho. No wonder we find Joshua out in the middle of the desert, taking a few quiet moments for himself.

Maybe you identify with Joshua as you read his story today. There seem to be many moments in life where we know God is leading us in a specific way, and in our logic, it seems that the sure paths of God would be paved with just a little more ease rather than so many difficulties and obstacles. Maybe life has been filled with weakness and searching for you lately, and you were just hoping for a few easy days, or at least an easy Christmas season. Maybe you’re in a place where it seems as though your greatest need is strength, yet you seem to be getting called into even greater weakness. Or you were hoping for a place of abundant provision but seem to find instead a greater need for searching.

We’re reminded in 2 Corinthians that it’s in our times of weakness that we find God’s strength to be perfect. Maybe our greatest moments of weakness are given with the purpose of driving us into searching for God’s strength in a greater way. Maybe it was because of all these difficult and weak places that we find Joshua wandering off by himself in the desert, in the perfect place for Emmanuel, God with us to show up and give him the strength of instruction. Sometimes God lets us feel the weight of being overwhelmed, nervous, and confused, knowing it drives us into a greater place of seeking after Him rather than trying to forge ahead in our own strength.

Can you imagine how different the book of Joshua would have been if God had just given supernatural strength to everyone and told them to just run ahead and conquer however they felt like? Maybe it would have seemed easier in the moment, but then they never would have had these faith-strengthening memories of knowing they were met by Emmanuel, and that He was with them through every step of the battle. Sometimes God allows places of weakness and seeking because He knows that’s what it takes to get us to the place where we’re looking for Him to meet our needs. God had already given Joshua the path to find Him through the meditation of God’s word and the remembrance of His presence, and now He allowed the circumstances for Joshua to need to press into these truths and practices.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”.”

Joshua 1:8-9

God isn’t just Emmanuel, God with us in the now, but He’s also Emmanuel, God with us in the future. Joshua could look back and see how God had been with them in every step as they wandered through the wilderness, and here God gives him the promise that He will be there through every step in the promise land as well. It’s often in these “between a rock and a hard place” moments when Emmanuel, God with us shows up with His desperately needed plan and presence.

Maybe, like Joshua, you’re in a place where you just aren’t sure what the future holds at this point, or you’re in a season of wandering through weakness and wonder. Can I remind you today that your greatest need is not to strategize anxiously, but to find the place of holiness and spend some time in worship and in meditation of God’s Word? Maybe you find yourself in a place of seeking after God but seeming to only feel weakness. Or maybe you’re searching for God but see only giant walls ahead of you. The answer of His presence will always eventually be found in the seeking. His strength will be made perfect in our weakness. We know the end of Joshua’s story. Jericho’s walls crashed down before them victoriously, and the promise land eventually became home for all of them. At the end of his days, Joshua declared that God hadn’t failed him in anything He had promised, and friend, our stories will be the same. Leaning on what we can see will never produce the strength we seek. God’s ways are high above ours and don’t always make sense to the logical mind. But if we will set to searching for Him in His word, worship, and in prayer, Emmanuel, God with us will always show up with the perfect battle plans in the perfect moment.

Emmanuel; with us IS GOD