When you were a young child, did people ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up?
My answer to this question changed frequently as I grew.
I remember being interested in driving a semi for a brief period.
Another strong interest at one point was interior decorating.
But by the time I was in eighth grade, music had captured my attention above all other potential vocational pursuits.
Then, after fifteen-plus years of a music career, I transitioned into administrative work.
Although I believe I am talented and gifted in the vocations I have pursued, I believe my calling from God is to write Bible studies. (See my About page for a few more details.)
This is why I write this blog. And it is a part of my worship of God.
I am thinking about all of this today because of Joshua 5:13-15.
Worship in Response to Your Calling |Joshua 5:13-15
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” (Jos 5:13)
Who was Joshua based on Exodus 17:9-14?
What role does Joshua have in Exodus 24:13 and 33:11?
How long had Joshua had this role? (See Num 11:28)
Why was Joshua by Jericho? (See Josh 1:1-6, 2:1 and 2:23-24)
14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” (Jos 5:14)
What does the “no” response to Joshua’s question, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” communicate about the man standing with the drawn sword? (Some translations translate the Hebrew word here as “neither”.)
Who does the man standing with the drawn sword say he is?
Review the following verses considering Joshua’s response to who the man says he is.
23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. (Num 22:23)
How did the donkey respond to the angel of the Lord with the sword?
31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. (Num 22:31)
How did Balaam respond to the angel of the Lord with the sword?
And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. (1 Chron 21:16)
How did David and the elders respond to the angel of the Lord with the sword?
Back to Joshua.
15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Jos 5:15)
Compare Jos 5:15 to the following verses from Exodus.
4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (Ex 3:4–6)
Who is speaking in Exodus?
What instructions did Moses receive that Joshua also received from the commander of the Lord’s army?
Now consider the opening verses of the book of Joshua.
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. (Jos 1:1–2)
Who is commissioning or calling Joshua to lead the people of Israel?
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. (Jos 1:3–5)
What does the Lord promise Joshua?
Review Joshua 5:14 above. What else is said of Joshua’s response to the angel of the Lord with the sword?
Worship may be translated as reverence and awe.
Why did Joshua respond in this manner to the man with the sword?
Worship in Response to Your Calling | Your Turn
What is a calling?
Consider the following definitions from Merriam-webster.com.
- 1: a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence
- 2: the vocation or profession in which one customarily engages
Since this is a Bible study blog, naturally the first definition is my first thought.
What is your calling from God?
Describe how you discovered your calling.
How does worship of God play a role in your calling?
Heavenly Father, thank you for the example of Joshua’s faithfulness in worship of you. May we respond to you in worship as we live out the specific calling you have given us. Amen.
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn