SCRIPTURE:
“Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the LORD, the God of Israel, has said, "There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst."
Joshua 7:13
OBSERVATION:
The verse opens with a powerful and urgent command: “Rise up!” It shows action, it’s forceful, and filled with momentum. It calls for immediate movement, no hesitation, no delay. That phrase alone stirs something in me. It feels like a call to action, to step forward, to engage, to advance. I mua e nā pokiʻi!
I’m so wired to “do” that I tend to neglect, even forget, the rest of this verse. My heart gets moved by the mission and command to “rise up! that everything else after that is an afterthought. I’m so focused on the action ahead that I immediately start strategizing that course rather than first making sure my heart is on the right course.
But God does not stop at calling Joshua to rise up. In the same breath, He commands consecration. The urgency is not just about movement, it is about preparation. Before Israel can stand against their enemies, they must first deal with what is hidden within their own camp. There is something “that does not belong, something that disrupts their relationship with God.
Today this scripture reveals a deeper truth: the barrier to victory is not always external opposition, but internal disobedience. God makes it clear that His presence and favor cannot fully remain where there is unrepented sin. Rising up without consecration leads to instability. Strength without holiness leads to defeat.
APPLICATION:
I am naturally drawn to the command to “rise up”, E Ala E. It energizes and motivates me. It aligns with how I’m wired, to move, to act, to solve, to push forward, I Mua. When I sense a challenge or opportunity, my instinct is to respond immediately, to strategize, and remain steadfast. But today this scripture confronts that tendency. It reminds me that my first response should not always be action, it should be examination. Before I rise up outwardly, I need to look inwardly.
Too often, I focus on the mission ahead while neglecting the condition within. I can become so driven to address problems, help others, or pursue goals that I skip over repentance and self-reflection. I may even notice flaws in others while ignoring areas in my own heart that need cleansing.
I don’t want to lose the passion that drives me to rise up, but I need to anchor that passion in purity. I need to pause, ponder, pray and collaborate with the Holy Spirit, and listen for His direction before moving forward. True strength comes from a heart that is surrendered, cleansed, and aligned with my Savior and King.
PRAYER:
Jesus, search me and reveal anything within me that is not pleasing to You. Give me the courage to confront it and the obedience to remove it. Teach me to consecrate myself daily, not as an afterthought, but as a priority. Amen
