A man drives to the local mall. He has been driving around and around for quite some time, struggling to find a parking space. “Lord,” he prays. “I can’t stand this. If you open a space up for me, I swear I’ll give up the drink and go to mass every Sunday.” Suddenly, the clouds part and the sun shines on an empty parking spot. Without hesitation, the man says: “Never mind, found one!”
There is great strength when you surround yourself with like minded people. God had told Moses to lead the people to the promised land, but Moses could not get them in because of their unbelief. They were too scared to fight the giants of the land. So God raised Joshua to lead the people. He was one of the two spies who gave the good report.
The very first battle they faced was at Jericho. This was a great way to train the people to trust in the Lord. Jericho was called, “Jericho, the city of palm trees.” (Deuteronomy 34:3). The generation of those who followed Moses died in the wilderness while the next generation started their journey towards God’s promise. Moses originally sent out 12 spies but Joshua now has to send spies out. He only sends two into Jericho. They scout the land and are saved by Rahab. Her and her family heard about how God parted the Red Sea and wanted to follow after the true God.
According to GotQuestions.org, “Jericho was an unconquerable, walled city. Excavations there reveal that its fortifications featured a stone wall 11 feet high and 14 feet wide. At its top was a smooth stone slope, angling upward at 35 degrees for 35 feet, where it joined massive stone walls that towered even higher. It was virtually impregnable”
God had them march around the city for seven days. They were not to speak a word until the seventh day.The strategy was seemingly foolish. Yet God was training them to not listen to the wisdom of the world but to trust in Him.
On the seventh day they began at sunrise and walked around the walls seven times. On the seventh time they shouted with a loud sound and the wall fell crumbling down! It was a miracle. Later God used Joshua to lead them into their Promised Land. He is a picture of Jesus.
Throughout the Bible we see how when people are with God, they are blessed. We read, “The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man.” (Genesis 39:2). Also, “David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him.” (1 Samuel 18:14). Then we read, “So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.” (Joshua 6:27).
If you believe in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us. May Jericho be a reminder that it’s not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord!