“Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16

You don’t have to knock and ask permission; it’s already been given and the One inviting says “Come on in.”

“Let us therefore, come boldly.”

Notice it didn’t say timidly. . .hesitantly. . .or fearfully. It said “boldly” (Grk. “parrhesia”—“all out-spokenness, frankness, confident assurance, freely, openly, plainly, etc.”). We are invited to come just as we are, knowing the One Who invites us already knows everything about us, but still desires for us to “draw near” (James 4:8; Mt. 11:28-30).

“Unto the Throne of Grace.”

A picture of a sovereign king and one of his subjects. Even now we can envision the king sitting on the royal throne, his beautiful, majestic, finely-tailored and richly-colored robe reaching down to the floor. Like Esther, who was fearful of drawing near to King Xerxes (without an invitation), so do we too often tremble and shrink back in fear/guilt even though His royal scepter has been extended unto us.

But, let us remember that the word “Grace” is engraved in royal, red letters on this Throne. Perhaps it’s at the top of the Throne, prominently displayed, so all can see. And, right underneath this precious words are the equally-wonderful words of “Whosoever will may come.”

“And the Captain of the Lord’s Host said unto Joshua, ‘Loose your shoes from off your foot—for the place whereon you stand is holy.’ And, Joshua did so.”

Joshua 5:15

Remembering this will cause us to fall down and worship even in enemy territory.

Holy Ground.

Joshua and the children of Israel had just crossed over into the Promised Land by “passing through” the flooded Jordan River. Just as He parted the Red Sea for Moses and the two million Israelites when they fled from 430 years in Egyptian captivity, so did He part the Jordan River so they, too, could walk across on dry ground (Josh. 3:15-17).

This miracle caused the enemies’ hearts to “melt within them and their spirits to fail” (Josh. 5:1), which should encourage us when we find ourselves in the heat of spiritual battle. Never forget, “Our God will fight for us” (Neh. 4:20) and victory is assured when we go forth in His Name (I Sam. 17:37, 45-47; II Chron. 20:15). Hallelujah!!

It’s also interesting their arrival at Gilgal brought a return of the rite of circumcision, which had been neglected during their 40 years in the wilderness (Josh. 5:2-9). It also brought an end to the need of manna from Heaven because they could now eat “of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year” (v. 12). Glory!!

“. . .for Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest.”

Joshua 3:15b

So often God’s greatest miracles are reserved for those who are willing to step into the floodwaters, trusting Him to make a way through them.

For 40 years they’d wandered in the wilderness. For 40 years many of them had lived with the guilt of knowing their wandering was a direct result of their unbelief and disobedience (Num. 14:20-35).

But, now their day had come. The day to enter the Promised Land.

And, the Jordan River “overflowed all its banks because it was harvest-time.”

Talk about “bad timing!”

Or, was it?

There’s nothing mentioned about the Jordan’s condition 40 years before when the 12 spies went into the land to check things out (Num. 13:1-33). Most likely, it was normal, slowly flowing along with no menacing whirlpools, strong current, floating debris, etc. Regardless, the fact that it’s mentioned in our Manna tells us their entering in was challenging from the get-go.

The question was “Would they believe God. . .that He’d part the river the same way He did the Red Sea (Josh. 3:13; 4:23). . .or would they once again shrink back in fear and refuse to enter in?”

“But Jeremiah said, ‘They shall not deliver you. Obey, I beseech you, the Voice of the Lord, which I speak unto you; so it shall be well unto you and your soul shall live’.”

Jeremiah 38:20

It all comes down to “Do we believe Him or not?”

When Samuel told Saul that day that he’d been rejected as king of Israel because of his willful disobedience, he said “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the Voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams—for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king” (I Sam. 15:22-23).

“Obedience is better than sacrifice.”

That was the message of Amos when he prophesied during a time of national optimism in Israel. Business was booming and her territory was expanding; yet, in the midst of her prosperity she’d “left her First Love” (cf. Rev. 2:4) and started going through the motions in her worship and service of the God of Abraham. No wonder the Lord God told him to tell them “I hate, I despise your feast days and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. . .Take away from Me the noise of your songs—for I will not hear the melody of your harps. But, let judgment run down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:21, 23-24).

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10

When He saves us, as someone says, “He puts your picture on His refrigerator door;” He also wants to show you off to the world as one of His prized possessions.

An heirloom.

Most folks know what one is. And, some of you reading these words even have one that’s been passed down from one generation to another. Perhaps it’s a set of fine china. Or, it might be a beautiful broach or diamond ring. Or, maybe an antique firearm, chair or sewing machine.

But, the fact remains it’s both precious and priceless to you.

Maybe not because of its value on the auction block—but because of the one who gave it to you and your desire to cherish it and later pass it on.

In many ways, that’s somewhat the meaning of the Greek word “poiema” used here for “workmanship.” Although often translated “a product, fabric, etc.,” some have likened it unto a showpiece prominently displayed upon one’s fireplace mantle.

Thus, when we read today’s Manna with that thought in mind, it takes on a whole new meaning: “For we are an example of God’s creative handiwork or exquisite ability.” Or, another way to view it would be the transformation of gold ore into 24-karat status or a freshly-mined diamond into a priceless gem. Both are defiled and useless in their original condition; however, in the hands of skilled artisans they become collector’s items.

“Offer unto God thanksgiving—and pay your vows unto the most High. And, call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me.”

Psalm 50:14-15

We shouldn’t wait until this time to do so, but neither should we hesitate to do so when it comes.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble.”

Someone once cautioned the saints of God of only having “foxhole faith,” i.e., treating Him as a “God in a jam” and forgetting all about Him when things are going good. Likewise, we should also guard against never praying and just assuming He’ll always automatically “supply all of our needs according to His riches in Glory” because He promised to do so (Phil. 4:19).

The Heavenly Father loves it when we “offer unto Him thanksgiving and pay our vows unto the most High.” Truly, “in everything we should give thanks—for this is His will for us in Christ Jesus” (I Thess. 5:18).

Yet, there are times when everything begins falling apart. It matters not if we’re regular in church, giving a tithe and offering, visiting the sick, helping the poor, etc. We enter into one of those “soggy seasons of life” (Eccl. 3:1-8) where “our tears have been our food day and night” (Ps. 42:3). Or, like Job, even though we’re “spiritually mature, upright, fear God and avoid evil” (Job 1:1), we still enter into a “dark night of the soul” and inwardly pine/sigh, “Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job. 5:7).