We all know the importance of signs. If not for the sign boards that rule our roads, we would be lost. This rings true in our spiritual lives too...if the Lord were to not lead us through signs, we would be floundering and lost.
The Holy Spirit helps us to interpret the signs that GOD gives us from time to time to make us aware of the progress we are making.
While I have listed 10 signs that GOD gave Joshua and the Israelites on their journey to the promised land, you can encounter most of them or some of them depending on the way GOD is leading you, but I hope I have covered all the possible signs because this is the largest portion of scripture where we see soo many signs from GOD! Amen.
In the Book of Joshua, we see the people of GOD making this long journey to the promised land. Moses is dead and Joshua has to take his place and lead the Israelites into the land flowing with milk and honey. Baffling as it looks to Joshua, GOD assures him that He would be with him just as He was with Moses. Joshua thus encouraged is all set to take on the humongous task.
This journey is very symbolic of our spiritual journey because it is characterized by fear, uncertainty, opposition -- but well complemented by strength, favor and divine help. Amen.
So this brings us to the first sign.
- Sign no 1: GOD speaks to us and prepares our heart for success. He gives us hope that He will be with us on our journey and He will help us all along the way. Amen.
So we read in verse 7,
Joshua {1:7} Only be thou strong and very courageous
And further in verse 8:
Joshua {1:8}:
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shall make thy way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success.
In verse 11, we hear Joshua speak to the people prophetically that they would pass over the Jordan in 3 days.
Joshua {1:11}:
'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'
How did he know that they would set out in 3 days -- it came from the Lord and so He knew it! Amen.
Child of GOD, the Lord will use His prophets to speak an inspired Word through the Spirit of GOD into your situation. This could be a divine encounter with an angel of GOD or a message from a gifted prophet. Many such instances are evidenced throughout the Bible for example when the angel Gabriel comes to Mary and announces the good news! Even today GOD sends His angels to reveal His plan and timing to the devoted ones. GOD always reaffirms Himself through His chosen instruments!
We thus come to :
- Sign no 2: He reveals His will through an inspired word.
Joshua then sends out 2 spies to check out the land. The two spies return after 3 days and they set out to cross the Jordan the next day.
Joshua {2:22}:
And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
Joshua {3:1}:
And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
Why is this little detail that they set out in 3 days important or significant? Because it sends a message to us that GOD was actually working behind the scenes -- arranging their circumstances to bring His Word to pass i.e, to enable them to cross the Jordan in 3 days! This is a very significant event because it shows GOD's faithfulness -- that He is in control. Amen.
Thus we have
- Sign no 3: He will bring His inspired word to pass.
This is exactly what I mean by a sign. And they are soo easy to miss if one does not search with a thoughtful heart. We need to be very aware within our heart that GOD has certainly done what might have looked impossible to start with. We have to be sensitive to the Lord's doing because it is in all these little miracles that GOD can reveal His power and glory unto us and we know that we serve an ALL powerful GOD.
- Sign no 4: He sends the right people into your life to help you out
Joshua {1:16} And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
GOD raises up people to help us in our moments of need. He causes all things to work together for our good.
- Sign no 5: He puts the fear of the Lord in the enemy's heart and the enemy will know that they will fall. In some cases, GOD even made the enemy to confess that He will do what He promised. For example Saul spoke to David confessing that GOD had indeed given him victory (1 Samuel 26:25).
So when the spies meet Rahab, what does she have to tell them? That the whole enemy nation was melting with fear because the Lord GOD had given them the land.
Joshua {2:9}:
And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
- Sign no 6: He will magnify and exalt you in the sight of all. He will make His countenance to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The people you lead will bear witness to your virtue on account of Christ and they will follow you decidedly.
Joshua {3:7}:
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
- Sign no 7: He will do something impossible and leave a memorial to remind you of His greatness.
In the case of the Israelites, the Lord caused the flood waters of Jordan to be stopped and stand as a heap.
Joshua {3:13}:
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
You will have a long lasting memorial before you ALWAYS of His mighty power in action and you will know without doubt that this could NOT have happened apart from the Lord. It is a good idea to write these events down when you know without doubt that the Lord had moved in your life. Amen!
Joshua {4: 22 - 24}:
And he spoke unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? {4:22} Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. {4:23} For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: {4:24} That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
- Sign no 8: He will cleanse you and sanctify you to prepare you to enter into the blessing. Amen. This reveals the holy nature of GOD.
The Israelites had to circumcise themselves to prepare to enter the Holy land.
Joshua {5:2}:
At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
- Sign no 9: He will reassure you of His Presence and unfailing love to boost your faith and confidence in the midst of warfare.
As the Israelites were preparing for battle, GOD sent an angel to guide them further and take them on the path to victory!
This shows the loving heart of GOD and His perfect understanding of our frailties. When we are weak, then He is strong! Amen.
GOD had already caused a great fear to fall upon their enemies so much so that no one was allowed to enter or come out of the city of Jericho. The Israelites knew it but GOD still knew their fears were real to them. So He sent His angel to speak to them about the technique He had planned for them to gain victory. And what a wonderful technique indeed! -- one which would bring Him the maximum glory! They would just have to go several rounds around the city walls for seven days and when the long blast of the trumpet would sound, the wall would come down by itself! Hallelujah!
So there would not be a single doubt left in their mind that GOD was going before them. Amen.
GOD loves us sooo much, doesn't He?
- Sign no 10: He causes His people to lift up a shout of victory unto Him and bring glory to Him!
Joshua {6:5}:
And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
It is the heart of GOD to lead us and guide us and ultimately give us the victory.
The Christian walk becomes easier when we learn to interpret the signs that GOD shows us. These little signs are built into the journey all along the way so that one would not become weary and lose heart.
The signs become more and more evident to us as we become aware in our hearts and are sensitized to His ways. When the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign, He asked them to be aware in their hearts.
See Matthew {16:1-3}:
The Demand for a Sign
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
Why does Jesus chide them for not being able to interpret the signs? Because ALL creation KNOWS its Creator and there is no excuse.
Romans {1: 20}:
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
Signs help us to maintain the momentum we build up with our obedience because when we see intermediate results, a shift takes place from believing to KNOWING! You know that your efforts are paying off and that your patience and perseverance are bearing fruit. It is like cold water to a weary soul! Being encouraged this way, you build up anticipation and expectation which releases more and more power into your situation until a perceivable shift takes place and the miracle manifests itself! Amen. Glory to Jesus!
GOD always works through us. So we must be surrendered to Him and co-operate with Him as we learn to interpret His signs so that we can enter the promised land. Amen.
May you be blessed in your walk with GOD.
All glory belongs to Jehovah for ever and ever. Hallelujah!!!
Saint of GOD, if you need encouragement or are in need of prayer, even a personal Word -- GOD willing, I am all here for you. Post a reply to this article and I will get in touch with you.
GOD bless you!
Niti Charlton
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