Joshua

I was reflecting today on Joshua when God gave him the battle plan for Jericho. Now, I know he was a whole lot better man than I am, but my first thought would have been, "We're going to do what? Walk around the city for six days and don't say a word. Then, on the seventh day, walk around the city seven times so we're really tired, and then, just blow the trumpets and yell. And the walls will fall down flat?" Uh-huh. Sure, they will. Sounds like a great plan.
And can you imagine the ridicule they heard from the Jericho folks standing on the walls? But they did exactly as God said. No explanation was needed. It was not how they won that mattered, but Who was on their side. The presence and help of God was indispensable. "If God be for us, who can stand against us?"
Do God's promises seem unattainable? Do you doubt that being obedient to His commands will cause all things to work out for your good, for the good of God's people, and for His glory? Do you doubt sometimes the promises of God? Ours is not to try to figure out how God will keep His promises, how He will give us the victory, but to accept by faith that as He has said, so will He do. Every time. We just need to trust and obey, to make God indispensable in our lives, day by day.
Why did they shout on that last day? "Shout! for the Lord has given you the victory!" It was a shout of praise--before the walls came down. "Thank you for the victory, Lord!" Followed by a crash. Perhaps God hasn't knocked down some of the walls in your life and mine because we are not yet ready to praise Him? Maybe it's just easier to keep walking around the city going in circles?
God has promised us the victory. God has promised us His goodness in our lives. The omnipotent God has promised. We must trust, obey, and shout. The Lord has given us the victory. The walls will fall.

"Whosoever is born of God, overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world--our faith."

"Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

"I can do all things through Christ who is my strength."