God's Constant Character

Joshua 6:2-3 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.

So here's what I really like about this passage.  It gives us a glimpse of God's constant character.  You see He starts out by assuring Joshua that He's got everything under control and has already won the victory over the enemies.  It also shows how God is Alpha and Omega.  He has no time boundaries.  He tells Joshua that He's already done the work, as in past tense.  And yet, the work hasn't even begun for Joshua.  I love it!  Makes me think of Him as "Jehovah Nissi", the Lord our Banner, who goes ahead of us and paves the way for us to see which way to go.  

And once He's assured Joshua that everything is under control, He proceeds to give him the instructions.  Now we all should know that God could have handed the city over to Joshua without having Joshua do anything at all. Why didn't He?  We know He had the power, as He had proven previously time and time again with the Israelites.   So why didn't He?  Was it just more fun to watch Joshua do the work?  No.  But it sure must be nice for God to see His people committed so deeply that they would do whatever He asks them to do.  And so Joshua followed the instructions and finally won over the city of Jericho as promised.  

Here's the thing that I find most intriguing and relatable to how God still deals with us now.  He doesn't just grant us things from afar like would a genie or wizard.  He instead brings us into the equation and walks us through the process showing us how He is involved every step of the way as we are faithful to obey and He is faithful to deliver.  He grants us the opportunity to show our faith in Him.  To obey Him.  And to recognize that He is there all along to sustain us and see us through whatever the circumstance.  Be it as big as knocking down Jericho's walls, or as small as showing patience toward our loved ones.  

Yet, the most special thing I find, although it doesn't come across in obvious terms, is that in making us part of the equation, God is actually relating with us.  He wants a relationship with us.  He doesn't want to be a god that sits on a throne and dictates or gives us gifts but doesn't really know us on a personal level.  He wants to have a relationship with us in which we will know Him and He will know us.  One in which we will walk together.  One in which we can depend on each other to do our part.  One in which there is trust and mutual love for each other.  God wants to relate with us.  He doesn't have to, but He wants to.  And He wants us to know everything about Him.  Not just His might and power, but His faithfulness and love.