The Mandate!?

2 Kings 19:35 And it all came to pass, for that night the Angel of the Lord went forth and slew 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when [the living] arose early in the morning, behold, all these were dead bodies.

One angel of the Lord killed 185,000 men – single-handedly! But this wasn’t just any “angel.” He is designated as the Angel of the Lord. Many scholars believe He is the same Angel mentioned in Joshua 5:13-14 When Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are you for us or for our adversaries? ¹⁴ And He said, No [neither], but as Prince of the Lord’s host have I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, What says my Lord to His servant? Now let me ask a silly question: Why would an “Angel” that can kill 185,000 men invite Joshua and the army of Israel to join Him and other angel warriors in “attacking” Jericho?

Part of the answer to that question is found in the original mandate given to Adam and Eve: Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. Genesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it. Thus, God was leading Israel back to the original mandate: subdue, tend, guard, and keep. 

Mandate is defined as an official order or commission to do something; and the authority to carry out a policy or course of action; A mandate is the power granted to a person or body to exercise authority on various matters affecting a jurisdiction or populace. Thus, the original mandate given to mankind was to be involved in the specifics mentioned above. Through the Captain of the Lord’s Hosts, Joshua was being led to co-partner with the Armies of Heaven in the advancement of God’s Kingdom on earth. (Sound familiar?)

Ultimately, the Angel of the Lord and angelic armies did not “need” the assistance of Joshua and the armies of Israel. From the beginning of creation God had planned a partnership between Heaven and earth; between the “son’s” of Heaven and the “son’s and “daughters” of earth. What was God’s long range goal? Rom. 8:19, 23 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].…And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons). The “warfare,” trials, tribulations, and obstacles are what God, the Father, uses to mold us into our final destination: co-reigning and ruling with Jesus.

Several years ago I was doing a study of the Beatitudes and came upon the third beatitude: “blessed are the meek for they shall in merit the earth.” That week I saw Psalm 37 in a new light. Five times it repeats this promise: Psalm 37:9 ...but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth. Psalm 37:11 …But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth….Psalm 37:22 For such as are blessed of God shall [in the end] inherit the earth…Psalm 37:29 [Then] the [consistently] righteous shall inherit the land….Psalm 37:34 Wait for and expect the Lord and keep and heed His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land…

Exasperated I remarked to the Lord, I am not wanting to inherit the earth. I just want to be with You. His reply? In the last days where am I going to be? Startled, I replied, On the earth! Followed by, I want to inherit the earth and be with You! God gives us the “Jericho’s” to make us into sons and daughters who will co-reign with Jesus. Hebrews 5:8-9 states: though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,…Jesus learned? Jesus was perfected? If Jesus had to go through these things should we expect anything less?

Some questions to ponder: Are you learning? Are you being perfected becoming like Jesus? Are you obeying while you are suffering? Will you be with Jesus when He returns to earth to rule and reign?