An Encounter (with God)
A silence precedes this sermon
Introduction
- Text from Joshua 5:13-15
- Example of a war hero: Alvyn York
- Another war hero: Joshua
- A momentous meeting with the Commander of the LORD's army
- Joshua shaped by this event
An Unexpected Event
- Joshua had to lift his eye (v13)
- What was he looking at and thinking?
- He saw a man with His sword drawn
- He only saw someone who was for or against Israel
- This was not just an angel
- God only allows Himself to be worshiped
- This is an Christophany - Jesus coming in the appearance of a man
- Old Testament examples of encounters with God - a Theophany
- The three visitors to Abraham
- Jacob wrestling with a man all night long
- New Testament examples of encounters with God
- The two on the road to Emaus
- Mary weeping at the tomb
- Saul on the road to Damascus
- Why do people have encounters with God and not realise?
- Is it the dullness of the human heart?
- Is it the rareness of these occurrences?
- God reveals Himself in a gradual way and a way they would understand
- Do such occurrences happen today?
- We are not to expect appearances of the risen [body of] Christ
- Christ does come by His Spirit
- Examples of persons visited by God's Spirit
- God meets with us through His word
- God's promise to manifest Himself to us
A Divine Encounter
- Joshua went to Him
- Joshua asks if the man is on his side
- We should not think is God on our side but are we on God's side?
- Other Divine Encounters:
- Think of the parallel passage with Abraham and the burning bush - you are on holy ground
- Think of Isaiah - a man of unclean lips
- Think of others: Jacob, Apostle John (on the Isle of Patmos)
- A divine encounter impacted their lives forever
- God was humbling him - he was previously exalted (4:14)
A Pivotal Moment (in Joshua's Life)
- 'I've not come to supplement but supplant your work'
- Do you ever think of God as a warrior?
- I am the LORD of Hosts
- The battle is fought in the heavenlies
- Ps 45:3-4a, Rev 6:2
- We don't see the spiritual realm but Joshua was having his eyes opened
- The Lord had spoken directly to Joshua
- Now the Lord was revealing Himself in physical form
- God was revealing His plan
- God holds our future in His hands
- What battles do we face?
- What is our Jericho?
- God has promised He will never leave or forsake us
- Can we say: We rest on thee, our shield and defender