Joshua was getting ready to lead the People of God across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. As God instructed, he called the officials together and told them to tell the people to “get their provisions ready.”
GET YOUR PROVISIONS READY
What exactly do you think the phrase “get your provisions ready” really meant to all of those old Israelites?
Was Joshua talking about equipment?
Did he mean food, or shelter?
Was he wanting them to store up water for the journey?
What did he mean?
They were already traveling with all of their physical possessions and had been traveling in formations like this for 40 years now. Physically; they were already ready.
Did he mean the same old drills that they had always done in the past; or was he talking about something new?
THE MEANING OF PROVISION
When I hear the word “provision” I usually think of an off-the-wall little place we found while visiting Holden Beach, N.C. This was a lovely, eclectic little restaurant serving up fresh seafood which sits partially open to the ocean on a pier.
The beach-shack walls that go partially up are lined with license plates from vehicles of their visitors from states all across the country. At night there are stringed lights that present a lovely moonlight view of the ocean which overlooks an old yacht club dock. Sitting there and sipping on one of your favorite beverages is quite a treat for the eyes and the friendly atmosphere and welcome by the service is so relaxing and cheerful.
You can fall in love with that little place. It is called The Provision Company. Don’t ask me why; all I can do is guess.
My guess is that this is one of the very few places nearby that provides food for the hungry. We were on the “family” side of the beach and there isn’t really a lot of commercial development; just lots of families living out a good life on the beachfront. Though the place has a lovely atmosphere; most are simply there to fill their bellies with fresh seafood for dinner.
PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL PROVISION
Food is a very necessary physical “provision.” Do you think Joshua was telling the leaders to get the people to pack up their food supplies?
I think not. The reason being that they had already scoped out the land and it was FULL of milk and honey. They would want for no food in this rich and plentiful land.
So what did they need to pack up and get ready in the way of provisions?
While out in the desert with Moses the people had learned over and over again that God was their Provider.
He had provided them with Manna for food and a rock for water.
God had given them a map to follow with the Pillar of fire by night and the Cloud of smoke by day.
When they needed order and organization in living; God had shown them the ten best ways to live.
In the times when they became tired God had given them Sabbath rests.
He had entertained them and provided them with fun and festivities when he gave them his beautiful feasts and festivals.
If they ever wondered who they were or what they were doing on this earth; God had put his name on them and given them a unique identity. They knew their heritage in God.
No physical provisions were needed!
FAITH IS A GREAT SPIRITUAL PROVISION
What the people needed to gather up was their faith and courage and loyalty to The Great God of Heaven and Earth.
They needed to be spiritually pure and cleansed. All sins needed to be confessed and all souls needed to be rededicated and ready to do God’s work in the new place. They needed to make their sacrifices and bring their offerings.
If they gathered anything new; it was to be to put on the spiritual armor of God. This would be, of course; the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of Faith in the Word of God, the belt of truth and the sword of God’s Holy Spirit.
THE PROVISION OF HOPE IN THE WORD
These ancient people were limited in some respects. They could only bring the spiritual provisions that God had provided during their lifetimes. Messiah had not yet come, but they could take the hope of Him.
They could make their sacrifices and give their offerings. Righteous living could be achieved among the tribes, and above all they had their faith, which was the substance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. They KNEW God and they believed in Him.
Faith was the most important thing for them to be prepared to take on this journey.
I think part of what Joshua was saying to them when he told them to gather together their provisions was to be prepared spiritually.
BECOMING SPIRITUALLY PREPARED
Today we are so close to crossing over to another side of the spiritual realms too. There will come a day when God will send Jesus back to earth for His Bride, the Holy Church. We will need our provisions to be ready.
These provisions are more spiritual in nature than physical. We are told to have oil in our lamps; or to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit. The old parables speak of a Bride that is dressed in white and in a spotlessly clean garment. This means that all of our sins should be confessed and we should be strong and reinforced and cleansed by hours and hours of communicating with God in prayer and by fasting. We should have the Word of God from the Holy Scriptures buried deep within our hearts. These need to be lived out daily; not just studied and shared.
STRONG SPIRITUAL ARMOR
Joshua was instructed to tell the people to get ready. God was going to take them to a place of great physical provision; but they needed to have their souls prepared to begin the building of the new things that God was going to do and perform. They needed strong spiritual armor and inner strength for what was ahead.
Today we need the same.
There is a huge spiritual battle looming out in our future.
Are you ready?
Do you have your provisions packed and ready to go?
One day we all will be crossing over to the other side.
Now is the time to prepared.