Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites.
No one went out and no one came in.1
How’s that for a depressing start?
Welcome to life.
You’re trudging along and then you get hit with an insurmountable problem.
The divorce is final.
The jury’s verdict was bad.
The tumour is malignant.
There are times when we meet problems with no solutions.
Jericho was the epitome of insurmountable.
Walls are meant to be breached, but how do you breach a wall that is that high?
Enter an unconventional solution from an unconventional God.
Circling the mighty city would not have been in any General’s battle handbook, but the General of Generals had other plans.
I’m very much a cause and effect person. Loosely translated – I don’t walk around counting on miracles to fix problems.
It turns out there are things I can’t fix and shocking as it may be, that goes for you too.
Regardless of how resourced or connected you are, at some point you will realize you are only human
At some point you will be towered over by Jericho.
At some point you will realize that the help you need has to be divine.
Let me let you in on a secret.
God loves it when we get to that point.
That shouldn’t be too hard to understand.
Any good parent wants to solve problems that their kids cannot solve.
That’s an instinct rooted in unconditional love and God is a good parent.
He knows how to solve problems we cannot even comprehend.
But God’s miracles are not usually conventional
That will be what birthed the phrase ‘if you want God to laugh, tell him your plans.’
The order was for Israel to march around the problem for 7 days while keeping quiet.
Then they were to shout.
How’s that for a strategy?
Because you know the outcome, you’re not scratching your head.
But what about when God asks you to be quiet when you’re bursting to talk?
What about when God tells you to wait, even though you’re raring to go?
That would be me wondering why God doesn’t conform to my way of doing things.
Joshua did obey, and the city that was tightly shut because of the Israelites, ended up being taken apart on account of the Israelites.
Jericho is a good miracle to remember when you find yourself in a pickle.
The God who declares himself to be on our side has a strategy that goes beyond our personal shortfalls.
And that God loves you.
Remember that when you’re backed into a corner.
He can get it done, and He wants you to trust even when it’s not being done your way.
Walls can come down.
Giants can be conquered.
They were for God’s people.
You are God’s people.
He will do it for you.