Focal Passage: Joshua 6:12-25
Have you ever faced a challenge that seemed impossible and wondered needed to come up with a strategy to overcome it?
I had such an experience in the summer of 2018. There was a large dead tree in my backyard that stood dangerously close to my house. One strong storm could have sent it crashing onto our home. As I considered how to remove it, I quickly realized that no amount of YouTube videos could give me the confidence or expertise I needed.
Thankfully, I knew someone who could help. My friend Richi led a disaster relief ministry and had extensive experience in removing trees. After assessing the situation, he walked into the middle of the yard, held up a stick as if he were taking a measurement, then dropped it on the ground and said, “The tree is going to fall right here.”
I was skeptical. A stick in the air did not seem like much of a plan. As I questioned him, he simply replied, “Have some faith in me.” Sure enough, when the tree came down, it landed exactly where he said it would. That day I learned an important lesson: Sometimes it’s best to trust someone other than yourself.
In Joshua 6, Joshua and the people of Israel faced an enormous challenge. The fortified city of Jericho stood between them and the land God had promised. Humanly speaking, conquering such a city would require military strength, careful planning, and strategic tactics.
But God’s strategy for conquering Jericho was unlike anything they would have expected.
The Lord instructed the Israelites to march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march around it seven times. Then they were to blow their trumpets, the people were to shout, and God would cause the walls to fall.
To military experts, this strategy would have seemed foolish. Marching, blowing trumpets, and shouting were not common methods of warfare! Yet Joshua had learned that God’s strategy is better than human wisdom. Rather than relying on their own understanding, the people trusted God’s Word and obeyed His commands.
The result was exactly what God promised. The walls of Jericho fell, and Israel experienced victory through faith-filled obedience.
As believers, we also face obstacles that seem overwhelming. We encounter suffering, uncertainty, temptation, anxiety, and disappointment. In those moments, we are often tempted to rely solely on our own wisdom and strength. Yet Scripture continually points us to a better way.
God has given us His Word to guide us, His Spirit to empower us, His church to encourage us, and His Son to save us. The Christian life is not about trusting our own plans but about trusting the Lord and walking in obedience to Him.
What challenge are you facing today? Where are you tempted to rely on your own understanding? Like Joshua and the Israelites, may we trust God’s promises, obey His Word, and believe that He is faithful to accomplish His purposes. Sometimes we need to trust someone other than ourselves and that someone is Jesus. B&R