Read
1Meanwhile, the people of Jericho had been locking the gates in their town wall because they were afraid of the Israelites. No one could go out or come in.
2-3The Lord said to Joshua:
With my help, you and your army will defeat the king of Jericho and his army, and you will capture the town. Here is how to do it: March slowly around Jericho once a day for six days. 4Take along the sacred chest and tell seven priests to walk in front of it, carrying trumpets.
But on the seventh day, march slowly around the town seven times while the priests blow their trumpets. 5Then the priests will blast on their trumpets, and everyone else will shout. The wall will fall down, and your soldiers can go straight in from every side.
6Joshua called the priests together and said, “Take the chest and tell seven priests to carry trumpets and march ahead of it.”
7-10Next, he gave the army their orders: “March slowly around Jericho. A few of you will go ahead of the chest to guard it, but most of you will follow it. Don't shout the battle cry or yell or even talk until the day I tell you to. Then let out a shout!”
As soon as Joshua finished giving the orders, the army started marching. One group of soldiers led the way, with seven priests marching behind them and blowing trumpets. Then came the priests carrying the chest, followed by the rest of the soldiers. 11They obeyed Joshua's orders and carried the chest once around the town before returning to camp for the night.
Reflect
The instructions were to march around the city once a day for six days, in silence, behind the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times with the priests blowing trumpets and at the end of the seventh march they were to shout. The time of silence is a time of humiliation, to walk and not taunt. They were not to sneer, nor take the opportunity to network with a neighbor. The Ark of the Covenant was a sign of the presence of God, of his promises, deliverance and forgiveness. An unrighteous people would not prevail. And so they followed, and waited.
Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church. The gates of hell were like Jericho which had shut its gates and waited in fear. Here is the perspective we need to gain: we are not to be the ones who wait in fear while Satan wreaks havoc on our families, our church, or even on us. No, we are part of the church which is the aggressive force against hell and all evil. Every day presents opportunities to stand for justice, to speak for good, and to bring healing and freedom. As part of the church, in the name of Christ, we must seize such opportunities, but not on our own, but only in Christ’s name. We follow Christ alone, humbly waiting and allowing him to work. In the end we will be able to give a shout of victory.
Respond
Father in heaven, faced with the uncertainty of today I so quickly lose sight of your provision -your promises to me, your strength and your forgiveness. I lose sight of being your child, of being part of your church, and I begin to feel fear instead of courage, doubt instead of faith. Allow me to look up and see, out front, Christ and his cross leading me forward, and let me step forward today with the courage of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Franklin Pyles
Franklin Pyles was a pastor of churches that served inner city neighborhoods, taught theology at Canadian Theological Seminary, and then was a pastor in a medium sized Ontario city. He then served his denomination, The Christian & Missionary Alliance as President for the full time allotted. He has written on C.S. Lewis and on a variety of ministry and church concerns. He continues a preaching and teaching ministry, currently at McMaster Divinity College. Publications: Most electronic and in house for the Alliance.