Flaming maple?

Fall of the wall

Considering Jericho was God's first commission to Joshua, I started reading the book from the beginning, and the fist thing that caught my attention was God telling Joshua to "be strong and of good courage"(Joshua 1:6, 9) and even the soldiers doing the same thing (Joshua 1:18). Now, we do NOT know how Joshua felt back then – his mentor haddied before reaching the Promised Land and leader though he was, chosen by God Himself, approved by Moses and the whole congregation, he still needed God's guarantee that He was with him, twice.

This statement, or rather, statements, got me wondering. So many of us(I'd probably be the first on that list) are so eager to start something we never wait for His assurance – maybe it is a Word we've listened to on Sunday morning, and most of the times it sounds so good, we feel it is just for us… or we see or hear something and are so eager, we immediately say we're ready; but then, when the sun comes up, we get scorched and die (Matt 13:6) or else the thorns choke the
zeal out of us (Matt 13:7) but look at Joshua – one of the best military leaders the Bible talks about… and he wouldn't budge. He waited for God's guarantee.

It's time to retrospect. Have we jumped the gun? There would be so many reasons, personal and otherwise, but did we instead, wait on the Lord for a personal encounter – worried ourselves to bits that He chose to come down and tell us "be strong and of good courage" not once, but TWICE? If not, do it now. Remember, there was only one bunch of seeds that produced the crop…

Secondly, meticulous would best describe God's plans for Israel at Jericho. God promising Joshua His company, the two-and-a-half tribes keeping their promise (Josh 1:12-18), Rahab and the spies (Josh 2) where God sovereignly led them to the one person in Jericho who believed, and thus, helped boost Joshua's confidence again that God was with Him like He promised; miraculously crossing the Red Sea – one of the most beautiful ways of God reminding us that He hasn't changed sides is His love for coincidences in our lives; the commander of God's army who was ready for the battle against Jericho (remember how God protected Elisha with chariots of fire), the way they were supposed to take over Jericho and even the instructions that were not
to be broken… God was thorough. Reminded me of Michael W. Smith's "Step by step He leads me…" Think about it. The way He's led each one of us individually and collectively as a group w.r.t ZPT until today. He knows what He is doing and shouldn't that be guarantee enough for us?

Finally, I wanted to point something out; something, every one of us knows, and yet, the ONE thing we all forget. SILENCE! The Bible teaches us to "wait on the Lord" – to stand still or be silent before Him (eg) Moses at the Red sea (Ex 14:13), Jehoshaphat in II Chr 20:15-17.
Here, Joshua commands the children of Israel to maintain complete silence as they walk around Jericho. It didn't matter whether Jericho was scared of Israel or if it was a fortified city with impenetrable gates. But of course, Joshua would remember the 40 years of trudging in the wilderness because of the negative confession of the people at the initial spy report of the Promised Land.

History lesson aside, Joshua's directive to keep silent is a precaution that teaches us – when facing great challenges, do NOT speak unbelieving words. Prohibit demoralizing speech from your lips. Your words can bind or set free, and as such, silence is best – No wonder then, that the obedience (keeping silent) of the people until Joshua gave them the command to shout together(unity) brought about triumph [Demoralizing speech brings about disunity and discord]. We cannot help what we see or hear, but our refusal to speak doubt and fear will keep our hearts more inclined to what God can do, rather than to what we cannot.

One unified shout with the trumpets blaring on the seventh day – and the wall went flat. Reminds us, doesn't it? What God can do… and what we cannot!

posted by Finney @ 12:54 PM