Don't Bury Your Head in the Sand! – Joshua 7:6, 10

6   Joshua ripped his clothes and fell on his face to the ground before the Chest of God, he and the leaders throwing dirt on their heads, prostrate until evening. 

10 God said to Joshua, "Get up. Why are you groveling?

      – Joshua 7:6, 10

Don't Bury Your Head in the Sand!

Joshua made a mistake. A BIG mistake.  A mistake that got a lot of men killed.  Why? Because he got ahead of God, left God out of his decision-making, and as a result, he and his leaders threw themselves on the ground and buried their heads in the sand.  This reminds me of those DirecTV commercials.  You know, the ones where some poor guy  only has cable TV, which causes him to do one thing, which causes him to do another thing, which causes him to do yet another thing, which results in him burying his head in the sand.  The end of the commercial goes something like "Don't bury your head in the sand . . . Get DirecTV."

This scenario is perfect for that commercial:  

The scene opens with Joshua was sitting around with his generals.  

• When you sit around with your generals, you send men out to spy the land.  
• When you send out men to spy the land, they may come back with a good report.  
• When men come back with a good report, it causes you to get ahead of God. 
• When you get ahead of God, your army is wiped out.  
• When your army is wiped out, you bury your head in the sand.  
• Don't bury your head in the sand. 
• Always consult and do God's will, your army will thank you and your hair will stay nice and shiny.

We've all done this right? We get so excited about this ministry opportunity or that outreach program that we get ahead of God and everything we do (though well-meaning), ends up fruitless and frustrated.  So what do we do?  Well, usually we feel sorry for ourselves and we try to figure out who it was that caused the problem.  In essence, we are burying our heads in the sand because the problem started with us, getting ahead of God.

God knows us, and He understands our puppy dog enthusiasm, so He sits and watches us make a mess of things.  But instead of letting us stew in our misery, He wants us to "Get UP!"  He wants us to stop our self-pity, and our useless "why"ning.  He wants us to learn that we have to stay behind Him and let Him be the power behind our energy.  Like a Chess Master, He must be the one moving us from place to place, with His strategy, and His purpose.  Because we are on the board, we can't see over or around the obstacles that are in our way.  Only God can see the entire playing field, and no matter if we see ourselves as kings, queens, knights, bishops, rooks, or pawns, we are useless unless God moves us.

So if you are in a rut in your life, your job, or your ministry, perhaps you have gotten ahead of God and you need to let Him move you back a few squares.  Get up, shake all that dirt out of your hair, stop your groveling, and look to the Master.  See what He wants.  Then make yourself completely available to His will.  It might not be your idea of where you want to go, but if God is the One directing you, you will succeed, and you will prosper, and you will never have to bury your head in the sand again.

Prayer

Father, thank You for reminding us that our efforts will be fruitless, and may actually cause harm if we try to get ahead of You.  Forgive us for leaving You out of our plans and out of our hopes and dreams.  Help us to remember that You are the Master over our lives so that we can accomplish Your will, whatever it may be.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard