The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.” (Joshua 6:2-3)
There are only two options in this life when it comes to strength: we can live life in our strength or we can live in God’s strength. The choice is always ours! I hope you’ll be encouraged as you read on.
If you were Joshua and received the instructions from the Lord that you’ve just read for conquering the city of Jericho, what might you have thought? This is crazy! . . . This will never work! . . . I don’t believe I’m even considering doing such a thing!
And you’ve only read a portion of the Lord’s instructions to Joshua. Here are the rest:
Have 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. When 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. (Joshua 6:4-5)
Joshua had witnessed all the miracles that God performed to free the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt and the supernatural care the Lord gave them throughout 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, yet these commands for the assault on Jericho seem to stretch the limits of sensibility. But when Joshua traded his strength for the strength of God, the seemingly impregnable walls of Jericho collapsed (Joshua 6:20).
The battlefield skills Joshua had acquired throughout decades of serving under Moses would not serve him in conquering Jericho. God had a different plan, and that plan required Joshua to trade his strength for the strength of the Sovereign Lord. Instead of using swords, spears, and javelins, Joshua was to take his army on a holy stroll around the walls of Jericho, culminating in a holy shout. When the dust had settled, there was absolutely no confusion as to who was responsible for the victory.
What “walls of Jericho” in your life right now need to come tumbling down? Perhaps there has been a wall building between you and your spouse for years. Maybe there is a wall in your work, your finances, or your health. Make no mistake, none of these walls will ever fall to your strength, for “From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!” (Romans 11:36).
Only when you trust completely in the Lord will those walls in your life collapse. God has designed the victory to be won in His strength, for He will not share His glory with anyone. So do as Joshua did; set aside your own strength today and trust in the strength of your Savior. That’s when you’ll see those walls come tumbling down, and you and everyone around you will know it was the Lord who has won the victory. To Him be the glory forever!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 