Today’s Reading: Joshua 7; Joshua 8; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5
Scripture: Joshua 7:6, 10-11
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening....
10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep..."
Observation: Israel has been defeated at Ai. After the great victory at Jericho, Ai was considered small and easy and only a few thousand men were sent to do the job. But they were routed. Joshua and the people are discouraged and Joshua lays prostrate before the ark in prayer. When the Lord answers Joshua, he tells him to "Stand up!" and rebukes him. "What are you doing down on your face?" In other words, this is no time for prayer. This is a time for action -- a time for leadership. There was sin to confront, there was work to do to deal with problems among the people.
Application: There is a time for every purpose under heaven. There is a time for prayer, and surely I don't do enough of it. But there is a time when prayer is wholly inappropriate and action is required. The message here for me is this: there is no "one size fits all" approach to leadership and problem solving. Prayer is important, certainly. This cannot be stressed enough. But there is a time when action is what God wants and expects. And if we fail to act at those times, no amount of prayer will make up for it.
Prayer: Lord, help me be in tune with You to know exactly what to do at every moment. I want to pray when it's time to pray and I want to act decisively when that is what You are calling for. Give me ears to hear, a heart to obey, and courage to do whatever is necessary.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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