Tonight we continued looking at the lessons we learn from the life of Joshua and in particular focussed on the victory God brought about in miraculous ways at Jericho. (Josh 6:1-25) Victory at Jericho, the first town to fall in the Promised Land, demonstrated God’s power over all the nations, but it was definitely an unusual divine strategy which led to this victory. The people of God were commanded to march around the city for six days, and then on the seventh day, march around seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. This would lead to the walls collapsing and then the army could go in and bring about victory.
We see how the people’s obedience was instrumental in this victory, but ultimately also how God used ordinary means – trumpets, marching, shouting – to bring about something totally miraculous. The book of Joshua shows us many different victories, each one the response of Joshua to God’s specific word (using ambush at Ai (Josh 8:1-29) or surprise – with an extended day thrown in! – against the five kings of the Amorites. (Josh 10:1-15)) When we have no clue what to do, our eyes must be on God (as Jehoshaphat discovered in another battle years later. (2 Chron 20:1-17))
Methodology and strategy may change according to the times, but the battle belongs to the Lord alone; victory must be His. If we try to claim credit (as Nebuchadnezzar foolishly did in Daniel 4:30-32), the result will be disaster. Humility is necessary if we are to see the miraculous (Luke 14:11). Faithful obedience, such as was demonstrated by Joshua throughout his life, can achieve spectacular results, even if we feel that the means God uses are pretty ordinary!
