God's ways are higher than our ways!

One of the reasons that prayer is so vitally important in the life of the believer is that it affords him the opportunity to inquire of God concerning His will and His ways. The ways of God are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are deeper than our thoughts. It's imperative that every Christian spend time seeking God's leadership. It's not enough to understand the principles found in God's Word. We must also learn to be led by His Spirit in every situation.

Joshua:

Joshua understood this truth, and it became the centerpiece of his leadership. An incredible statement is made about Joshua's military strategy, "Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. 'Go, look over the land,' he said, 'especially Jericho.' So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there" (JOSHUA: 2 : 1 NIV).

Moses:

Moses certainly didn't do things that way. Moses sent twelve spies into the land of Canaan, but Joshua only chose two. Why? Perhaps Joshua remembered that ten of the twelve that Moses sent were men of fear rather than men of faith. He knew that two men of faith could accomplish much more than ten men of doubt. But there was a greater reason that only two were chosen - the Providence of God.

God doesn't change. He remains the same in His character and eternal attributes. But His ways and methods continually change. That's one of the greatest lessons that any Christian leader must learn. God knows everything. He knows every circumstance of our lives. Consequently, He knows the exact strategy that is needed for our leadership. With Moses, one strategy was needed. But for Joshua, another strategy was essential. God led Moses to choose twelve spies, but He led Joshua to pick only two.

If Joshua would have tried to simply do what Moses had done, it would have been disaster. But Joshua found God's plan for that particular moment and it worked. At first sight, it may have looked like a catastrophe in the making. But God's ways are higher than our ways. God had a plan that was far beyond anything Joshua could have ever imagined.

If I had been the leader of the children of Israel, I would have probably told those spies, "Look fellows, this is a dangerous mission. There's all kinds of potential perils that you're going to face. Stay focused. What ever you do, stay away from any prostitute's house!"

But God's ways are higher than our ways! He led them to a most unlikely place to stay - the home of Rahab, the harlot (JOSHUA: 2 :1). It would have been difficult for twelve men to stay there, but it was perfect for two. It would have been spiritual suicide for only one person to stay in the Harlot's house, but there was safety in twos. God's ways are good and perfect.

Rahab protected and hid the spies. They were able to witness to her of the greatness of their God. She embraced the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. She turned from her idolatry and trusted in the One, True, and Living God to save her and her family. The FAITH of the Israeli spies combined with the faith of the Canaanite harlot resulted in God's protection of the children of Israel and the family of Rahab.

God's ways are certainly higher than our ways. If we are to be all that God wants us to be, then we must do what the Scriptures teach, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (proverb: 3: 5,6 NIV).