Josh. 5:11-1511And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. 12And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. 13And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:11‑15)
THE next thing after the Passover, for the children of Israel, was feeding upon the old corn of the land: Manna had been their daily food throughout their wilderness journeying; now they would feed on manna no more. They had entered the land, and its fruit should be their food and stay. Before meeting the enemy, they should be strengthened through the corn of the land to go forward to conflict and victory.
Some of my young readers may ask, Has this, as a type, anything to do with believers in this day? It has; they have fed upon Christ the true Manna; Christ, once humbled here below; Christ, who trod the earth in lowly grace; Christ, whose heart. of love and pity went out for every needy one; Christ, whose patience and gentleness were manifest to all; Christ, the obedient One, who always did the Father’s will; Christ, who knew no sin, but who was made sin for us. Ah this is the One upon whom the souls of believers feed, as they follow Him in His footsteps here. And as they thus feed, their hearts are made to overflow with praise and adoration.
Do you ask. What has that to do with “the old corn, of the land”? That takes us a step further. “The land” is that which in type, speaks to us of the heavenly Canaan; and Israel feeding upon its fruit speaks to believers of the wonderful privilege that is theirs; they may feed upon a heavenly Christ. Christ, as the Manna, the bread that came down from heaven, is needed for the wilderness journey. But there is need also to know and feed upon Him as the risen One, now in the glory—the living, mighty, glorious, ascended Redeemer, to whom all power has been given in heaven and on earth, and whose glory fills the heavens. This is the One upon whom the believer may gaze and be transformed into His image; this is the One with whom he may be occupied until God-given rays of light and glory will shine into his heart, filling him with a joy and sweetness that all the joys of earth combined cannot touch. Oh! dear young reader, are you feeding on “the old corn of the land,” and finding its strength and sweetness?
One thing more — one step further — before Israel may go forward. Joshua is met by a man who has a drawn sword in his hand, and he is made to know that this is the captain of the Lord’s host. He falls on his face to the earth, and is then told to take his shoe from his foot, for the place where he Stands is holy.
Now just one little word for those who are saved, through grace. It is the Lord Himself who is the captain of His people. And He would have those who belong to Him, bear in mind that it ‘is the “Holy and the True” with whom they are called to walk. If they do not give heed to His word, “The prince of the power of the air,” and “the rulers of the darkness of this world” will get the advantage. God Himself is present, and He would have His people realize this as they enter upon the conflict. Holiness becometh His house forever. Are you aware of this. dear young reader. You must have to do with God. May you have grace given to walk softly before Him! “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.”
Messages of God’s Love 11/5/1905