2Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
3March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
4Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
5When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in."
- P100
10But Joshua had commanded the army, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!" - P101
11So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.
12Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
- P101
The Lord tells Joshua that He has delivered Jericho into the hands of theIsraelites. The armed men are to march around the city once a day for sixdays, followed by priests carrying the ark and trumpets. On the seventh day,
they are to march seven times. The armed guard is to remain silent while thepriests blow the trumpets, until Joshua tells them to shout. - P101
The city of Jericho securely bars its gates, standing like an impregnable fortress. It seems impossible to conquer by human effort. However, the almighty God declares that He has already given Jericho into Israel’s hands. Victory is assured if His people follow the unusual instructions of marching around the city for six days, and on the seventh day, march around the city seven times and give a loud shout. - P102
Sometimes, we may feel like we are in an impossible situation with no way out. - P102
However, God often has an entirely different perspective, and He can lead and guide us to victory in unusual and unexpected ways. Our role is to remain close to Him, listen to His voice, and follow His instruction. - P102
The Israelites faithfully march for six days around Jericho just as they havebeen instructed. They place the ark of the covenant in the middle of thearmy, demonstrating that God is at the center of His people. - P102
The soldiers do not giveany war cry or even say a word. They remain patient and obedient. Whenwe face our own battles, we might want to see God‘s promises fulfilledquickly. We may feel impatient about His unusual instructions or even fearlooking foolish in following them. - P102
However, if we are patient and faithfulto obey, we can expect to see mighty victories in our lives. - P102
"Yahweh himself issues the command for Israel to attack..., but he alone (not Israel)actually fights and wins the victory. Israel is simply to trust Yahweh for victory, notdepend on their own devices."- Robert L. Hubbard, Jr. - P102
He was calling me tohumble myself before the team. I thought I knew the solution, but in Hisgrace, God showed me that thetrue answer was humility.
- P103
Circling around Jericho must have seemed like a bizarre way to conquer acity, but we do not see Joshua and the Israelites questioning God‘s methods.
- P103
In our own lives, when we acknowledge God‘s wisdom and leadership, weshow that we trust in Him. We understand that His ways are best, and webecome effective in fighting whatever battles come our way-sometimesin unexpected ways. - P103
In whatever struggles we have today, may we findbreakthrough as we solve them His way. - P103
Heavenly Father, I put my trust in You and in Your goodness to bring me to Your glorious victory. - P103
Instruct me through my daily battles, and help me to humble myself as I listen and patiently endure in obedience to You. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P103
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