The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? (Joshua 7:10).

I love the Lord! 

Hear Him address Joshua, lying prostrate before Him: 

“Stand up! What are you doing down on your face” (Joshua 7:10)?

Can you imagine Joshua’s shock? 

“Boy! Since when did God become so direct and harsh”, Joshua may have said, as he dragged himself up from the ground. Could he possibly have imagined what was coming next?

“Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep… I will not be with you anymore” (11-12).

Has God dealt with you in this way before? I can hear Joshua petitioning the Lord to show mercy. “No, LORD. Please don’t go there! Remember what your servant Moses pleaded with you at Sanai?” 

‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here (Ex. 33:15). 

“So how can you desert us at the start of this glorious campaign, LORD,” Joshua might have said. 

“Hush! Let me finish, Joshua,” God might have insisted.

Can you imagine Joshua’s ego at this point? Merciful God that He is, He clarified Himself to His servant, now red-faced, with knees knocking. 

“I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction” (Joshua 7:12).

“Who is it, LORD? I promise you I will not rest until I have removed the defilement from the camp, as you have instructed.” 

“Yes! That is my son, and that’s why I love you! Now let’s get to work.” 

Friend! This is the attitude God wants from us when He points to the sin in our life, home, office, business, friendship, or any other association.

In the same manner God spoke to Joshua, the Holy Spirit tells us to: 

“Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and… run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith,” (Heb. 12:1-2 KJV).

What is your response?

May the Lord strengthen your resolve to remove anything that defiles your life and those things that restrain your walk with Jesus (Dan. 1:8). And may His favor fall upon you everywhere you go and in whatever you do, in Jesus’ matchless name, amen!