Josh 5-8 Military Strategy...Yelling

March 12th, Joshua 5-8

       In the annals of war there are things that have worked and been repeated and things that didn't work and won't be repeated. Jericho is a different case entirely and proof that God, like Sinatra, is gonna do it his way. Some vegetables do a good job telling this story and they don't make it anymore believable, just a little more fun.
       I didn't remember the strange part of the story where the guy titled "Commander of the Lord"s Army" seems to come out of nowhere and takes charge. Testimony to Joshua, usually new people in positions of authority don't just give in to some strange person identifying themselves as such. Makes you wonder about who this is right!
       Meanwhile back to Jericho... God's not interested in battle plans that make sense to people. You just know that when God is in charge things get done. Being their first battle in the promised land you wonder what people were thinking. Marching around a city once a day seems like an odd thing to do. On the seventh day as they entered the last lap you wonder do these guys have enough faith to shout with all their heart or are they embarrassed by this "Stupid Plan." How does Joshua feel as the new leader enacting an unproven military strategy? Things we'll never know, but I know humanity and I know that when God asks us to do something different from the norm, doubt can set in.
       But our God is big and mighty and doing what he asks should be my norm. No matter how odd or against the norm it is, God should be like the old E.F. Hutton slogan... When God Talks, People Listen.
       Speaking of listening...Achan can't seem to and brings all sorts of trouble on himself and his nation. Our individual sin has an affect on our collective whole. Another good thought worthy of an entire devotion.
        Meanwhile God has another plan for another city. It too is the way of God. God could have had the nation do the same thing as they did in Jericho. It worked last time, why not try it again? Answer... because faith is to be placed in the author of the plan and not the plan itself. When we see God at work in a certain way, we tend to want to repeat it, thinking it was the plan that works more than God. Don't live out someone else's plan, learn to do what God asks of you. It's the connection we have with God to here his voice and do what he asks. In the Covenant Church this is the value we've labeled "Connectional"  Listening to the Spirit and doing what he asks. All the while being Strong and Courageous!!

Strength and Courage,

Terry