Rahab was saved from destruction because of the scarlet cord hanging from the window of her house. She believed in the God of Israel and she was saved because of it. If she was the same Rahab who married Salmon and became the mother of Boaz, and conservative scholarship maintains she probably was, then Rahab became part of Israel by marriage. But this is another matter. The family of Rahab was saved under the blood (the scarlet cord), so to speak, but never became part of Israel.

After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it." (Joshua 3:2,3—NIV)

In the first chapter God had spoken of the land He was giving to the Israelites. God told them that He would give them every place they set their foot.

But now the Israelites were being told they must follow the Ark of the Covenant in order to gain their inheritance.

There is a tremendous lesson in this for us. For two thousand years the Christian churches have attempted to gain what they think God has promised them (often being incorrect even in this!). But they have not followed the Ark. They have not waited on the Lord for His specific leading.

"God has given us a blank check," they cry, "just fill it in and you can have all you want by faith." Or, "God helps them who help themselves." Or, "If you will send me all your money I will save the world." Or, "Let us go forward as an army and crush everyone who gets in the way."

Even in the most devout assemblies we often see human plans, ambitions, talents, wisdom, and energy in the forefront of many endeavors.

Will we ever learn? Will we ever be willing to wait on the Lord until we know what He wants us to do? And this moment by moment?

No doubt many of the warriors of Israel had ideas of their own how Jericho should be conquered, when they should cross Jordan, whether they should attack by day or night, whether they should set an ambush and then draw out the warriors of Jericho, and so forth.

God did not leave it to them to figure out how to invade and conquer the territory He had given them. He led them by His Presence, by the Ark of the Covenant.

Jesus Christ said He would build His Church on the revelation that He is the Anointed One, the Christ of God. He did not say we would build His Church on this revelation, He said He would build His Church.

He did not invite Peter to feed Peter's sheep but the Lord's sheep.

For two thousand years much if not most Christian effort has been directed by the mind of man, and the same situation exists today.

It is a temptation, once we think we know what God has in mind for us, to forge ahead in our own strength. How easy this is to do! But we succeed only in bringing forth an Ishmael, a wild man.

To be continued.