Joshua 6

Peter is not the only person in the Bible who is one of our Cohorts in Craziness.  Joshua definitely was crazy for God.  I love this story!  God tells Joshua to march around the city once a day for six days and then on the seventh day, walk around the city seven times.  Then blow your horns and shout and the city will be yours.  How crazy?!?

If you were Joshua and God gave you these instructions, would you think, “This is crazy” or “This is never going to work, but ok, if You say so.”  As a leader, I can only imagine how Joshua felt when he had to share the “battle plan” with his people.  I’m sure they were expecting this master plan of how to enter the city and over take Jericho; that they were going to scale the wall at night, take out the guards on the wall, then sneak into town and take the city.  But, Joshua shared this plan – walking around the city was their part, bringing down the wall was God’s part.  I’m sure some grumbled, but I’m certain some of the Israelites had been in relationship with God long enough to realize the crazier it sounds, the more they trusted God to show up and do His part.

So – they walked – for six days they walked.  Now Jericho is not as big as you think…at least it wasn’t as big as I thought.  It’s about 10 acres…only about ½ mile circumference.  But still, for so many people, this would have taken some time.  On the seventh day, they walked seven times.  I wonder if the people griped.  I wonder if the guards on the wall taunted or if the people from the city came to see what was going on (I love the French Peas in the Veggie Tales rendition of this story!)  After the people shouted, the wall fell upon itself (in such a way, archeology tells us, to create a ramp for the people to climb into the city).  There was no question God showed up.

Joshua is our Cohort in Craziness.  God spoke, Joshua listened and immediately followed.  Joshua did not wait for confirmation or assume he hadn’t really heard from God, Joshua called the priests and started giving orders.  They followed.  God showed up.

God continues to speak to us today – through His Scripture, through prayer, through other Christians…in multitudes of ways.  We have to be aware and listening so when he calls us to a task, we listen and immediately follow His instruction.  We need to take the first step…then we can watch God show us in a mighty way!!  What is God calling you to do?  What are you waiting for?

I’m praying for you!!

Pastor Amy