Scripture
Joshua 6:1-25
Military strategies are not something I know much about. However, I can tell you that the strategy the Israelites used to defeat Jericho is not really a logical one; it doesn’t make sense. However, it was God’s strategy he gave them, and (spoiler alert) it worked!
When it was finally time for the Israelites to enter into the land God promised them, after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, God gave Joshua their strategic plan to take the city. He said to march around the city once a day for six days with all the armed men. In the front of the army, there will be seven priests who are to carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark of the covenant. The ark was the main symbol of faith and God’s presence for the Israelites and it also contained the two tablets God gave Moses with the 10 Commandments on them, and other significant items as well.
So, leading the army was priests with trumpets, basically the worship team. Since the ark of the covenant represented God’s presence, it was basically God saying that he is going with them and before the army, leading the way for them. So, the marching order is priests with trumpets (the worship team), the ark of the covenant (essentially God’s presence), and then all of the armed men. The worship team, both then and now, were leading in a way that ushered in God’s presence.
So, they are to march around the city once a day for six days. Then, on the seventh day, they are to march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When they hear the priests sound a long blast on the trumpets, the whole army is to give a loud shout. Then, the wall of the city will collapse and the army will into the city. The Israelites did exactly what God told them to do, and it all happened exactly as he said it would. The walls of Jericho came tumbling down after the seventh trip around the city on the seventh day, and they were able to take the city and enter into the promised land.
This strategy seems very odd and it doesn’t make sense, but God often does things like this to show people that it isn’t by human strength, power, or plans that these incredible things happen, but it’s only by God. That is the only possibility because, like with Jericho, what happened is just so crazy and impossible in our minds. We cannot cause an entire fortified city wall to collapse by walking around it any number of times, that’s just not how it works, but that’s exactly how God works. He loves to show his power and his greatness in ways like this.
Maybe God is asking you to do something that seems crazy, or it just doesn’t make any sense, like walking around a city to defeat it. A lot of the time, when God asks us to do something, it doesn’t really make sense. But I do know that if God asks or tells you to do something, even if it sounds crazy, do it. If that is where he’s working and where he’s leading you, there’s nowhere else you’d rather be. He is faithful and will do it.
He may want to use you to show his power and his greatness by doing something that you couldn’t possibly do on your own. That is exciting and something that I would want to be a part of. Let God use you to reveal his greatness!
Prayer
God, your ways are higher than my ways. I can’t begin to understand your plan or why you do what you do, but I know that you are good, you are great, and you are powerful. Use me and my life to reveal your greatness. Give me the strength and courage to follow and obey you, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Questions/Journal Prompts
Feel free to use these questions as a guide as you journal and/or pray.
1. Has God ever asked you, or have you felt like God called you, to do something that just doesn’t make sense? What was that like?
2. Have you ever seen God use another person to do something incredible, something that they couldn’t do in their own strength? Describe that.
3. Is there something God is calling or leading you to do today that doesn’t make sense? If so, what feelings come along with that?
Songs to listen to
Spend some time listening to these songs, reflecting on the words, and sitting with Jesus.
“Way Maker” by Leeland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJCV_2H9xD0
“Do It Again” by Elevation Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B_lnQIITxU
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