Joshua and the Israelites had the courage to fight the battle with God rather than against God. They didn’t attack Jericho. They walked around it. That was it.
And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days. (Joshua 6:14 ESV)
Joshua and the Israelites needed enough courage to keep trusting God. They couldn’t just do what God wanted for a day. God’s plan had them marching around the city for seven days. On the first six days, the pattern was to be the same. On the seventh day, though, they got to change things up.
On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD." (Joshua 6:15-19 ESV)
Many of us remember the story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho. This is the part of the story where we get read for the walls to come tumbling down. Today, though, I want to take the time to notice something. The walls only came tumbling down because the Israelites were faithful to God’s plan – all of them. Not one person stormed the castle on day three. No Levite said, “I’m tired of carrying this ark around. You guys go ahead without me.” No, they were all faithful. They all did their part of God’s plan. That’s because God’s plan included all of them. They were a team.
How about you? Do you realize that when you choose to walk with God, you are choosing God’s team? Do you recognize that your words and actions reflect on the team? Did you know that your words and actions affect the team? Do you have the courage to join God’s team?
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