Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
Joshua 5:13-6:5
Background
Delivery from a few hundred years of Egyptian captivity didn’t sufficiently lift the Israelites faith. 10 miraculous plagues? Nope. Manna delivered from heaven? Nope. Fire in the sky? Nope. Surely parting the Red Sea? Not so much.
It was time to enter the Promised Land. To scout it out a bit and chart the next steps. The debriefing didn’t go down well. Most only saw the visual challenges. The giants. Joshua and Caleb tried to remind everyone a more important force would insure victory. But the recent memories of the giants were too freshly imprinted. The two guys were in the minority. The majority prevailed. And on this day fear won over faith.
The Lord had enough. At least for a bit. It was time to wait…40 years. To prepare. The Israelites were having a difficult time. The obstacle in front of them continued to be assigned a larger stature and weight than the invisible power that was available. Faith was elusive.
Forty long years had expired. It was time. In a previous week the people had recently crossed the Jordan. Another water miracle. But now was a time for a battle. A live opponent. Spears. Arrows. The real thing…against the mighty Jericho. Big walls. Large army. Skilled. The Israelite special ops team would be needed. Maybe.
A heavenly host met with Joshua face to face. There was no ambiguity about the military instructions: 1. Days 1-6: March around the city with the armed men; 2. Day 7: March around city seven times and have the priest blow the trumpets. Yup. The armed men would set the stage. But the worshippers would deliver the decisive blow.
The real power was yet again going to come from this heavenly source. And what activated the power? Worship. This upside-down kingdom calculus was in fine form again.
Reflections
It is so easy to become fixated on what we see. Or experience. The frightening and painful reality in front of us. And to dismiss the massive power offered by the spirit of God. The Lord clearly wants us to do the opposite. It is in the act of worship that we step back and revere his sovereignty. Lean into awe. Even lean into faith.
Well, what do you do when the “invisible” God seems small or distant or quiet…and that darn very visible giant seems big? Or what is seen gets priority over what is invisible? How do you unlock the power? Simple. Worship.
Some of the most impressive military exploits in Israelite history were under King David’s leadership. Was it a coincidence he was a worship leader?
What should you do when family relationships are fractured and hopeless? Worship. When the job transition and future looks bleak? Worship. When the medical prognosis leaves a pit in your stomach? Worship. When the adoption process is going on for years and has no immediate end in sight? Worship.
Lord, I continue to forget as well. Your hand has been so graciously guiding our family for years. In the good times. And the difficult. And you always deliver. Even in the pain. Help me to engage in my biggest battles with worship. You have been reminding me of this truth many times over the last few years. To shift my gaze from the very visible giant. To the source of real power. You. Please change my vision so I can see You more clearly than what is in front of me. And to worship. Activate the power. Be glorified. Amen.
What if our spiritual instincts shifted and we became more heavenly minded? And engaged in the most difficult battles of our lives with worship? How do you think the heavenly hosts are reacting?
What if our church’s instinct in chaos and crisis was to lean into worship? Would corporate faith be lifted? Would miraculous outcomes become more the norm?
What if... 