Joshua 6:6-14: a reflection

6Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD’s ark.” 7They said to the people, “Advance! March around the city, and let the armed men pass on before the LORD’s ark.” 8It was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them. 9The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the ark went after them. The trumpets sounded as they went. 10Joshua commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” 11So he caused the LORD’s ark to go around the city, circling it once. Then they came into the camp, and stayed in the camp. 12Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the LORD’s ark. 13The seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the LORD’s ark went on continually, and blew the trumpets. The armed men went in front of them. The rear guard came after the LORD’s ark. The trumpets sounded as they went. 14The second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. They did this six days.

The taking of Jericho did not come through a sudden assault but through days of patient, quiet obedience. God commanded Israel to march around the city once each day for six days, in silence, saying not a word, the priests bearing the ark and blowing the trumpets, and then to return to camp. Day after day they marched and said nothing, doing what God had commanded though the walls still stood, though nothing seemed to happen, though the strange command must have tested their patience. They obeyed and waited, marching in silence, trusting God's word and God's timing, before the victory came on the seventh day. The taking of the city required patient, trusting obedience, doing what God said and waiting for his time, even when day after day nothing visible changed.

Notice the patient obedience God required before the victory: marching in silence, day after day, waiting for his time. The walls did not fall on the first day, or the second; for six days Israel marched around the city and returned to camp, doing what God commanded though nothing yet happened. It must have tested their patience to obey a command so strange, to march and wait while the walls still stood. But they obeyed and waited, trusting God's word and God's timing. The victory came in God's time, on the seventh day, but only after days of patient, quiet obedience. God did not give the city on the first march; he asked for patient obedience that would trust and wait. The waiting was part of the obedience; the patience was part of the faith. God's time came, but it asked for patience.

That is worth taking to heart, for God often asks for patient, trusting obedience that waits for his time before the victory comes. We can want God's results at once, and grow discouraged when we obey and nothing seems to happen, when the walls still stand after our obedience; but Israel marched in silence for six days before Jericho fell, obeying and waiting for God's time. God sometimes asks us to keep obeying, patiently, trustingly, while nothing visible changes, before he acts. Do not give up obedience because nothing seems to be happening; keep marching, patiently and trustingly, waiting for God's time, as Israel did before Jericho. Keep obeying patiently and trustingly, waiting for God's time even when day after day nothing visible seems to change, as Israel marched around Jericho in silence for six days before the walls fell on the seventh; for God often gives the victory only after patient obedience that trusts his word and waits his timing, and the waiting is part of the obedience and the patience part of the faith.

Lord, the taking of Jericho did not come through a sudden assault but through days of patient, quiet obedience. You commanded Israel to march around the city once each day for six days, in silence, saying not a word, the priests bearing the ark and blowing the trumpets, and then to return to camp. Day after day they marched and said nothing, doing what you had commanded though the walls still stood, though nothing seemed to happen. They obeyed and waited, marching in silence, trusting your word and your timing, before the victory came on the seventh day. Show me the patient obedience you required before the victory: marching in silence, day after day, waiting for your time. The walls did not fall on the first day, or the second; for six days Israel marched around the city and returned to camp, doing what you commanded though nothing yet happened. It must have tested their patience to obey a command so strange. But they obeyed and waited, trusting your word and your timing. The victory came in your time, on the seventh day, but only after days of patient obedience. Take that to my heart, for you often ask for patient, trusting obedience that waits for your time before the victory comes. I can want your results at once, and grow discouraged when I obey and nothing seems to happen, when the walls still stand after my obedience; but Israel marched in silence for six days before Jericho fell. You sometimes ask me to keep obeying, patiently, trustingly, while nothing visible changes. Keep me from giving up obedience because nothing seems to be happening; help me keep marching, patiently and trustingly, Lord, waiting for your time, as Israel did before Jericho.