Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Joshua 5:14 He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?" |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Joshua 5:14 He said, "No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the LORD." Then Joshua fell with his face toward the earth and bowed down, and said to him, "What does my lord have to say to his servant?" |
Bible Question: So god has an army. That would seem to be the case in numbers. God seems to be able to do most anything he/she wants. Why would god need an army? |
Bible Answer: Buddhist, Good question. I'll attempt an answer. God doesn't need anyone or anything, that's why the scripture says: "Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine." (Job 41:11) The bible tells the story of God's relationship to His creation and His desire for all of us to become righteous in His sight and to live with Him eternally: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2Pe 3:9) To this end He gave His son: "...so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3.16) Why should God care so deeply for a creation that seems hell-bent on misery and self-destruction? Because even though God has no need of anyone or anything, He nevertheless loves, indeed He is love, and it's from Him only that we have the capacity for love: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1Jo 4:7-8) And "We love, because He first loved us." (1Jo 4:19) It is from love that He created us, and it's only through His merciful love that we have any hope of salvation in this life. The amazing thing about God is that as disgusting as we are (any honest appraisal of the world must conclude this), He still laid down His own life for us (if you have children you might understand this better): "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8) He needs no army, yet armies arise either from love of Him or from hate of Him. I am part of this Army by writing this to you, because God is an intensely personal God who has said: "'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jer 29:11) This future and hope is "...'NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART' (and Old Testament refernce)--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." (Rom 10:8-10) It's great that you've come here for answers. Welcome. A lot of good comes out of this forum. If you own a bible or can get your hands on one, open to the Gospel of John and start to read. Pray before, if you wish, and ask whether any of it is true. Colin. |