The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Tuesday
March 25, 2008
Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of
the Israelites. No one was allowed to go in or out. But the LORD said to Joshua, "I have given you Jericho, its king, and all
its mighty warriors. Your entire army is to march around the city once a
day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying
a ram's horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the city seven times,
with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one
long blast on the horns, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the walls
of the city will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the
city."
So Joshua called together the priests and said, "Take up the Ark of
the Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a
ram's horn." Then he gave orders to the people: "March around the city,
and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the LORD."
Joshua 6:1-7
Okay, these folks had heard about what God had done for the Israelites. Now instead of having reverent fear of God and allowing that to create a hunger to know Him, they feared the Israelites. Their eyes were not on God, their eyes were on people. Ouch!
Jericho was a fortified city. These people shut themselves inside and stationed guards to watch out for the Israelites. They were totally afraid, but they felt safe inside their little kingdom. Does that sound like us sometimes? Do we wall ourselves in our little comfort zones? I think so.
Joshua probably had a plan for Jericho until he met the Lord and the Lord gave him a plan. Can you imagine the look of shock on the faces of his followers when he shared the plan with them? I can almost hear them saying, "Now, wait. We've never done it this way before." Are those words familiar to you?
Over and over God had placed these people and/or their ancestors in a position where only God could deliver them. At this point in their journey they were finally one. It does not show that anyone protested Joshua's word from the Lord. They simply obeyed. I cannot stress the importance of obedience to God. Through our obedience God will often reveal a new truth about Himself and His power in our lives. Having stood face to face with Jesus Joshua's only choice was to worship Him through the act of obedience and walk by faith.
We know today that the number seven in the Bible infers completeness. God wanted the job at Jericho to be complete. His instructions were specific. All the people had to do was trust, obey, and walk. God would do the rest.
Knowing humanity, by the seventh day the people were hissing at them and their fear turned to laughter. Yet, they could not look at the people. They had to keep their eyes on God and His Presence through the Arc of the Covenant.
Father, I know that You have not changed. You keep revealing truths to us, but You do not change. You change us, but You do not change. Forgive me for questioning Your strategies in my life. If you want me to walk ¾ I'll walk. If you want me to wait ¾ I'll wait. Help me as I face my Jericho to trust You to deliver me.
