“And Yahweh said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you…….Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh gave over the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stood in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, when Yahweh listened to the voice of a man; for Yahweh fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10:8, 11-14 LSB) https://accordance.bible/link/read/LSB#Josh._10:8
Most people want to encounter God, they want to see Him act in their lives, confirming His existence and their value before Him. The lack of seeing God at work is what causes many people to doubt He exists. Some have prayed for His presence only to be disappointed that their wishes were not granted by Him and so in anger and revenge they turn away from God but to what? Ultimately their own destruction both in this life and in the life to come. So how do we experience God and why didn’t He step forward when we called for Him? The means to experiencing God, to see Him at work, to be around the power of His might and to see the goodness of His hand, is to be engaged in His work, obedient to His commands, doing what He is doing for when we are with Him we shall see Him. We call God to us, to our will and our wants, and He does not often answer. He calls us to His will and His ways through His word, and we don’t often answer. God is always at work, seeing and saving the lost. Those who would experience God, who would see His presence must be engaged in His work for that is where God is and He provides what is needed for those who labor with Him and for Him. Joshua saw a miracle after asking for a miracle because he was doing the work God commanded him to do. So too Jesus promises to give us whatever we need for doing the work He has commanded we do. The Great Commission is our mission, are we engaged in it, and what are we asking God for to help us accomplish it? It is in this context that we shall see God and experience His presence most consistently.
