"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought not equality with God a prize to be grasped: but emptied Himself, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." [Phil 2:5-8]
When Israel entered the land promised unto them of The LORD, they were promised, “every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” [Josh 1:3] Any location within that ordained land, so given and outlined by God, was available for conquest. The only thing inhibiting Israel from taking to themselves what God has freely given was unbelief. Yes, unbelief; as we read in Hebrews, regarding Israel’s refusal to enter and take the land,
“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” [Heb 4:2]
It would not be Israel’s weakness which would prevent them, for victories come from God’s hand and His strength, even as God has “chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty…that, according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in The Lord.” [1 Cor 1:27, 31] In the Psalms, The Holy Spirit says,
“They got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.” [Psa 44:3]
Yes, and even still we, (and not just Israel), cannot obtain nor conquer nor get victory in any area without God. For the Psalm continues, The Spirit speaking,
“Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.” [Psa 44:4-8]
As with the Israelites, so too it is with us, we cannot get victory, even in regard to that which is promised, “by [our] own sword” nor “[our] own arm.” For again, “the horse is prepared against the day of battle: but victory is of The LORD.” [Prov 21:31] Therefore, we can see that if we fail to obtain victory in some promised area, just as with Israel so too it will be true of us: our failure and defeat will not be due to our weakness, (for our weakness or strength play no part in victory, seeing that victory is of The LORD and also how that it is secured in His strength), but it will be due to our unbelief. Again, Jesus says, “all things are possible to him that believeth.” [Mk 9:23]
Under Joshua’s administration, before Israel crossed over the Jordan river into the promised land, The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, “every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” [Josh 1:3] If Joshua relied upon The LORD, abiding in Him and obeying Him, believing His word, then he would succeed, and as God said, “there shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life.” [Josh 1:5] The LORD encouraged him further, saying to him, and also to us who believe,
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for The LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” [Josh 1:7-9]
See that though Joshua had a very great calling and though there was much to do and many enemies to defeat, yet God did not speak strategy with Joshua. He did not tell him to train and become stronger; The LORD did not give him tips and tricks, nor yet a numbered list of to-dos. No, but The LORD said only to cling tightly to Himself, “that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law.” The LORD encouraged Joshua to “meditate [in the law] day and night,” and to obey it, and having done this, God promised, “then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” It was not Joshua’s strength, fortitude, or army which would save Him; no, for as we have seen in Psalms and Proverbs, God is the source of strength and victory. Therefore whether it be with Joshua or David, so too it is with us: we must cling to Jesus Christ, abide in Him and His word, being obedient to such, that we might find victory and grow as Christians. The only thing that would inhibit us from such an accomplishment is unbelief. We may not be strong, but that is no matter; as David wrote, “He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me;” [Psa 18:17] and Paul, “when I am weak, then am I strong,” for Jesus had said to him, “my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” [2 Cor 12:9-10]
As with Joshua, as with David, and as with Paul, so too with us: our strength lies not within ourselves, but is given to us by Jesus Christ. Herein lies a great truth, by which we may expand upon our discussion regarding Jesus’ glory and how that He, as Philippians says, “emptied Himself.”
When Joshua crossed over the Jordan river, the first place that was to be conquered was Jericho. It was in that place where Jesus met Joshua. There, our Lord appeared as “Captain of the host of The LORD.” His deity is apparent for He said, after “Joshua fell on his face…and did worship,” those same words which The LORD spoke to Moses out of the bush, “loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.” [Josh 5:14, 15] Further, when He begins to speak, it is recorded in Joshua, “and The LORD said unto Joshua,” therefore showing us that this “man,” the “Captain of the host of The LORD,” was indeed Jesus. And so, it is written,
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as Captain of the host of The LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the Captain of The LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” [Josh 5:13-15]
During this encounter Jesus gave Joshua instruction on how to defeat Jericho, which can be read of in chapter six. It is there where “The LORD,” that is Jesus, said, “see, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.” [Josh 6:2] Regarding Jesus’ position of commander, it is also written, “thy Maker is thine husband, The LORD of Hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called.” [Isa 54:5] Jesus, who is our redeemer and husband, our Groom, is also “The LORD of Hosts” – the word hosts meaning armies. Jesus is the LORD of Armies, that is, of the heavenly armies: the angels; He is the one of whom The LORD spoke to Moses saying, “behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared…my Name is in Him.” [Ex 23:20, 21]
Having this in mind, let us read of an encounter Jesus had upon that night He was betrayed. When Judas came with the Romans to capture Jesus, Matthew records an incident involving Peter:
“And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” [Mt 26:51-54]
While in heaven Jesus held absolute authority and equality with God, on earth it was not so; for though Jesus on earth was one-hundred percent God, (as it says, “God was manifest in the flesh.” [1 Tim 3:16]), yet Jesus must have lived as we lived, suffering like-temptations, for it is also written, “[Jesus our High Priest] was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” [Heb 4:15] And though in heaven Jesus enjoyed power as Commander and Captain of God’s Heavenly Armies, yet here in Matthew we see that Jesus has emptied Himself of that power. For notice that Jesus says, “thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels,” and that He does not say that He can in any wise do that of His own accord, having to request such a thing of God. And this is perfectly in line with what Jesus speaks of regarding Himself, when He says on earth, “I can of mine own self do nothing;” and, “verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself.” [Jn 5:19, 30]
The humiliation of Jesus’ emptying should give us pause. Let us see the meekness and grace of our Lord that He would do such a thing. Whereas formerly He was in charge, able to command God’s armies at will, being the one to whom they looked for orders, yet on earth Jesus emptied Himself of such, instead choosing to live as we live. As it says also in Psalms, “thou hast made Him a little lower than the angels.” [Psa 8:5] Jesus, for a season, for His great work of salvation, allowed Himself to be made a little lower than the angels. To see more clearly the humiliation of such a thing, imagine the longstanding CEO of a great corporation lowering himself to serve at the lowest cashier’s level. No longer in a place of prominence or glory, no longer surrounded by luxury or riches, no longer powerful or freely able to do as he wishes – the CEO is humbled and lowered, being made like one of the workers whom he was formerly above. This is similar, yet still a thousand galaxies short in length, when compared with what Jesus accomplished when coming to earth. Jesus emptied Himself of that free will to command Heaven’s Armies; He gave it up, so that He might, as we must, rely upon God in faith for each victory. And truly, this makes Jesus’ righteousness and life upon earth, and His great victories over our shared enemy, so much more glorious and blessed. For who is like unto The Lord our God? Who can be compared to Jesus Christ our King, that wonderful and beautiful Savior? There is none like unto Him, for He is high above all, dazzling and fearful in praises, marvelous in glory. May these thoughts provoke us to praise and thank and extol Jesus, our God, who for His love for us “emptied Himself” of that position of The Lord of Heaven’s Armies so that He might live as we and die for our sins. May Jesus, who is “The King of Glory” and who was and is “mighty in battle,” [Psa 24:7, 8] ever receive thanksgiving and honor for His great humiliation.
Click here to see more posts in Daily Meditations on Jesus’ Glory, Vol III