Being point man in enemy territory is not a job-role for the feint-hearted. Despite good intel, you will never really know what’s up ahead. Not only that, but your mates behind are relying on your skill and sharpness to alert them of any enemy activity up ahead, ideally before the enemy sees or hears you first. But even when we are up out in front, we don’t have to feel that we are completely on our own or super stressed out about the extra responsibility…
Here is an extract from the account of Joshua in the Bible giving instructions before leading the people into battle to take new ground and go-firm across the Jordan River:
“When you see the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”
Joshua 3:3-4
What’s happening here is that Joshua is instructing the people to follow the Ark of the Covenant as it goes on ahead of them. The Ark is a box which represents the presence of God in their midst. By sending it out ahead, it’s like saying that they are sending God ahead to lead the way. The Bible text gives us the reason for this, “since you have never travelled this way before.”
For the Christian, God is always leading the way ahead in life, because He always knows best what our needs are, even when we don’t. We may not always be very good at following God’s lead, and sometimes we are lead where we don’t really want to go, but when we do follow, we know that we could not be in safer hands.
Next time you find yourself as Point-Man, or perhaps taking on a difficult tasking, a new job-role or a posting where you’ll be doing new or difficult things, why not consider praying for help and asking God to be your ‘point-man’.
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
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