It was then that I "fell into the Bible"...and in love with God all over again. I was struck with a new realization that this was not only where it all happened, this was the land of testimony.

As Mr. El-Heib helped me to my feet, I leaned forward once more and touched the proof of God's power when man brings himself to submission to His will for our lives.  I rubbed the ashes on a rock I'd picked up near my feet, and brought the rock home.

A Different Fire

As a Spirit-filled Christian, the Holy Spirit's fire dwells with me.  A power...a force...a guiding light that encourages me, strengthens me, comforts me, and so much more.  A fire, surely, that has left its mark on my life. 

But, I wonder, if someone should find the "remains" of this body thousands of years from now, will the "soot" from the Holy Spirit still be there?  Will the people say, "The Holy Spirit burned with such intensity in her life...look, the ashes still cling to the ruins"?

If this could happen, what would it take?

Joshua was able to conquer and destroy the work of the enemy because he trusted God.  He yielded all fear, all worry, all logical concern and went forth in the mission that God had directed him to do. 

Only when Joshua became devoid of the elements that were not of God, could he be filled with the elements that were of God...God's mighty Spirit, going before him, raising him up as more than a conqueror.

It's obvious from the Scriptures that before Joshua fought the northern kings of Israel he had gone to the Lord in prayer, to ask about the impending battle.

All these kings responded by mobilizing their warriors and uniting to fight against Israel. Their combined armies, along with a vast array of horses and chariots, covered the landscape like the sand on the seashore. They established their camp around the water near Merom to fight against Israel.

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow they will all be dead. Cripple their horses and burn their chariots." ~~Joshua 5:4-6 (NLT)