Take Heart

Joshua’s story Joshua was a military man. He was trained to lead armies into battle. He knew that winning or losing against Jericho would set the pace for the rest of the military campaigns which were ahead of them. Their reputation amongst the people in the land depended on the outcome of this first battle. Joshua also knew that the courage and resolve of the people to follow him as their leader was also dependent on how the battle against Jericho turned out. In preparation for the monumental event, this military man was probably running through strategies in his mind for the best way to approach the challenge ahead. This wasn’t his first time around the block of warfare. But this would be the first time to march around a city’s walls. God had prepared the battle plan for Joshua. Here it is: The people should march silently around the city walls for 7 days. What?? On the seventh day they should shout. That’s it. To say that this made no sense is a huge understatement. Even to a non-military person this is full-out preposterous. This command of God would have challenged every fiber of Joshua’s being. There was a lot at stake. Could he obey? Would he? Well, once again, we know how the story ends. By the hand of God, the walls of the city fell and the battle was won on a grand scale. But Joshua didn’t know that when he was presented with his obedience-choice. Even now, God may be asking you to do something that makes no sense. It goes against everything you see as logical and even the people around you are counseling you to come up with another plan. When we know God has spoken, our victory is dependent on our obedience no matter whether we deem it logical or not.