“The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!” (Joshua 6:16 NIV)
You win the battle when you’re obedient to God. Today’s scripture comes at the end of the battle of Jericho. An epic story that begins with Joshua having a candid conversation with an angel of the Lord. This video depicts the passage beautifully. God orders Joshua and the Israelites to march around Jericho with the Ark of the Covenant for 7 days. He has told Joshua that He has already given them the city. In order for Joshua to have victory, he must do what the Lord has told him to do. In order to win the battle, you have to be obedient to God.
In order to win the battle, you have to be obedient to God.
God told Joshua exactly what he needed to do to claim victory over Jericho:
“Then 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 NIV).
Joshua didn’t gain the victory until he did what he had to do. Often, in our own lives, God has told us what we need to do. We need to forgive our enemies (Luke 6:35-36 NIV). We are to go the extra mile for people (Matthew 5:41 NIV). We are to speak uplifting and encouraging words at all times (Psalm 19:14 NIV). Those are just a few of the more well known commands of God. God will give us victory if we are obedient to His ways. But first we have to do the work.
Joshua and the Israelites marched around Jericho for 7 days in full gear, carrying the Ark in the hot sun. The first six days, they did one lap around the city. On the seventh day, they walked around it 7 times. The distance around the city is estimated at 2000 ft, or about a ⅓ of mile. One lap would take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on speed. That means, on the last day, they walked for approximately 7 hours before the wall fell. Their obedience required work.
Our obedience requires work. We can do what Joshua did if we’re not sure what to do. We can seek God in prayer and supplication, asking Him for direction in our lives. We can lift up the battles we’re fighting and ask God for victory. And then we have to do the work. We have to pick up our cross and carry it with us (Matthew 16:24-26 NIV). Trusting God for the victory, as we are obedient to Him.
Question of the Day:
What battle do you need to lift up to God today and seek His guidance?
Further Reading: Joshua 5:1-7:15 NIV, Luke 15:1-32 NIV, Psalm 81:1-16 NIV, Proverbs 13:1 NIV
