Moses is gone. You, Joshua, are leading the Israelites now. Your first task is to enter the Promised Land, go to war, and take over the entire land. Simple, right? Use your completely untested army. Oh, and your first target is a city with a fortified wall up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. Your orders to win the city: Pull out your trumpet and play some tunes.
Uh. Yeah. Sure. How about we go back to Egypt or wander around the desert a bit more?
Joshua was given a task that seemed impossible. You can read this story in Joshua 6. The war was on. Nation against nations. God tells Joshua to cross the Jordan River then commands a very strange recipe for victory.
Joshua's first command was to take off his shoes (Joshua 5:15). God wants Joshua to understand that he is not in control. God Almighty is in control. Joshua obeys. Next he is given the plan (Joshua 6:3-5). Walk around the walls of Jericho for six days. Take the Ark of the Covenant with seven priests walking in front of it. On the seventh day walk around the city seven times, the priests blowing horns. On the last long blast, give a mighty shout.
The Ark was a symbol, a centerpiece of worship to the Israelites. It was the very dwelling of God on earth, so worship was directed to God through it. The priests themselves were not soldiers. Their role among the people was to lead them in worshiping to God. The horns were used in their worship as well. Let's not forget the shouting. Shouting is used in various places in the Old Testament as worship to the Lord.
Joshua and the nation of Israel is going into war. And they are told to worship. Worship wins the day. The walls come down. Jericho, one of the oldest and most well protected cities of ancient times, was totally destroyed by a band of inexperienced soldiers. Worship wins the day.
In the face of impossible odds, God gives these bizarre set of orders because he knows it will bring Him the glory. There is no possibility of Israel claiming victory with these insane orders. Only God could bring about Jericho's destruction. God simply asked Joshua and the people to trust him and worship. They obeyed. They worshiped. They won.
Why not try what Joshua did? Obey God in His Word. Obey His orders. And worship Him. Bring some noise in praise to Him. Then watch Him at work. Obey and worship. You might be surprised at the results.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott
Uh. Yeah. Sure. How about we go back to Egypt or wander around the desert a bit more?
Joshua was given a task that seemed impossible. You can read this story in Joshua 6. The war was on. Nation against nations. God tells Joshua to cross the Jordan River then commands a very strange recipe for victory.
Joshua's first command was to take off his shoes (Joshua 5:15). God wants Joshua to understand that he is not in control. God Almighty is in control. Joshua obeys. Next he is given the plan (Joshua 6:3-5). Walk around the walls of Jericho for six days. Take the Ark of the Covenant with seven priests walking in front of it. On the seventh day walk around the city seven times, the priests blowing horns. On the last long blast, give a mighty shout.
The Ark was a symbol, a centerpiece of worship to the Israelites. It was the very dwelling of God on earth, so worship was directed to God through it. The priests themselves were not soldiers. Their role among the people was to lead them in worshiping to God. The horns were used in their worship as well. Let's not forget the shouting. Shouting is used in various places in the Old Testament as worship to the Lord.
Joshua and the nation of Israel is going into war. And they are told to worship. Worship wins the day. The walls come down. Jericho, one of the oldest and most well protected cities of ancient times, was totally destroyed by a band of inexperienced soldiers. Worship wins the day.
In the face of impossible odds, God gives these bizarre set of orders because he knows it will bring Him the glory. There is no possibility of Israel claiming victory with these insane orders. Only God could bring about Jericho's destruction. God simply asked Joshua and the people to trust him and worship. They obeyed. They worshiped. They won.
Why not try what Joshua did? Obey God in His Word. Obey His orders. And worship Him. Bring some noise in praise to Him. Then watch Him at work. Obey and worship. You might be surprised at the results.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott