We read in the book of Joshua, the story of how God delivered the city of Jericho into the Israelites hands. However, it’s not how most people would expect the delivery to occur. Joshua and the nation of Israel didn’t bombard the city with battering rams and fierce warriors. No, God had a COMPLETELY different plan, and we read about that in Joshua chapter 6. “The LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors. You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.” (Joshua 6:2-5)
Now, if we were to consult with top miltary leaders about how to best destroy a city – they would most certainly NOT tell us to march around it once a day for six days, and then on the seventh day – march around it seven times and then blow some trumpets. In fact, if you suggested that, they would look at you like you were a complete idiot and say, “Are you crazy? That will never work!”
But, we read in Joshua 6 that the nation of Israel did exactly what God told them to do, and the city of Jericho was destroyed. God alone did that. He simply wanted them to trust Him and obey what He told them to do. The same is true for us today. We are simply to trust God and do what He tells us to do. We don’t need to be worried about the consequences or how He will make things work. We simply obey!
I’ve been speaking in a lot of public school FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) meetings this year, and every school I’ve spoken at has had at least 50+ students coming to the meetings, some have been close to 200 students getting to school an hour early just to attend the FCA huddle (that’s what they call their weekly meetings). It has been amazing to see God working. Well, last week I was invited to speak to another FCA huddle at a school I had not yet been to. Every school I’ve been to so far has told me to be at the school around 7:30 or 8:00 for the meeting, however this school told me they were on a totally different schedule, and they started their huddle at 6:15 in the morning!! I thought, “Kids get up THAT early to come to this?” And when I got there, there were only 25 – 30 kids, and a lot of them looked like they were still half asleep. So, I didn’t really expect much to happen, but shared with them for 20 minutes about my life and how that God has a plan for everyone’s life. I prayed that God would use this to touch lives, and then went about my daily activities for the rest of the day.
Well, that evening, I got the following email: “Hello my name is Andrea. On October 4th you came to my school. I would like to start off by telling you that you are an amazing person and a strong man. You see I doubted God for many reasons before in the past, I always questioned why He did the things He did. Why does God make the people we love die? Why does he make them sick? Why did God let my mom walk out on us or why He let my sister die. I don’t know if I was necessarily mad at god but I would question Him. My older brother seems to be mad at God and puts negative things in my head. I never really wanted to believe what he tells me but it makes me think. When you came to talk to us you made me realize and understand that God has a plan for all of us and he should never be questioned. This year I feel like I found my self and that I know what I live for! I live for God. My life is for God. Your testimony opened my eyes and a lot of people need to hear your story. God bless you Joshua, and thank you!”
God reminded me that He doesn’t need a large crowd of kids in a room all awake and alert to reach hearts! He can speak even when there is just 30 kids and they seem to be half asleep. All He requires is that we do what He tells us to do. Earlier this year, when God began opening doors for me to speak at FCA meetings, I didn’t even really know what the FCA was and I had no clue what the reaction of the students in public schools would be to my speaking, but I’ve seen God do some awesome and amazing things this year, because I chose to follow His leading and go speak to these FCA meetings. He is an AMAZING GOD! He can do AMAZING things. It’s not up to us to worry or wonder how or why things will work out tomorrow – it’s up to us to TRUST HIM and OBEY HIM TODAY! He has a perfect plan and He knows EXACTLY what He is doing! The fact that He is willing to use us to accomplish His plan is AWESOME in itself!
I like what Dr. Charles Stanley says, “Just obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”