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He Has Your Back

When you face critical events, isn’t it great to know that someone has your back?  Perhaps it’s even better when that person is a leader.

Of course, not all leaders have your back.  Some might be focused on power or prestige or just being in charge.  Sometimes leaders can be aloof or unapproachable and you don’t find them hanging out with those they lead unless absolutely necessary.  None of all that really gives you any real assurance that they have your back!

I really like the account of Joshua, a leader of Israel, and what he did on the eve of what was expected to be a major battle:

“So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the ambush site and waited between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But he spent that night with the troops.” (Joshua 8:9)

The troops probably needed to know that Joshua had their backs and to demonstrate that he did have their backs, he spent the night with them.  But it didn’t stop there, the next verse shows that he actively led the troops:

“Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.  And all the fighting men who were with him went up…”  (Josh 8:10-11)

Joshua, as a leader, stayed with his troops when they needed to know that he was there with them and for them.  He also actively led them in battle.  He definitely had their backs.

Another leader did all that and even more:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,” (Isa 61:1)

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10).

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

This leader, this Jesus, not only dwelt among us but He sought us, saved us, released us from darkness and bound up our brokenness.  To say that He has our backs is probably the greatest understatement of all time! 

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