Overcoming Obstacles
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Key Verse: “It came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.” Selected Scripture: |
THE WICKED CITY OF Jericho was a formidable obstacle for the Israelites to overcome as they began the process of possessing the land of Canaan. Not only did it have a valiant army and powerful king, but the city was completely walled in. It was a fortress which seemed impenetrable.
These conditions afforded God an opportunity to exercise his mighty power and invincibility on behalf of his people once again.
Before Joshua had been given the first word of instruction, God emphatically stated, “See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.” (Josh. 6:2) The message is clear that if God chooses to act in a particular way, the outcome is most certain.
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11) God’s instructions to Joshua seemed rather unusual and, by themselves, must have required a great measure of faith. All the men of war, with the seven priests blowing their rams’ horns, were to encompass the city once a day, for six days.
On the seventh day, after the seventh time around, they were to sound a long blast with their horns, and the people were to make a great shout, at which the wall would fall and they would take the city. The wall would fall, and the city would be taken easily, because the people and armies of Jericho would be in utter confusion.—Josh. 6:3-16
Joshua and the Israelites obeyed the word of the Lord and did everything as instructed. Even as they did this, Joshua reminded them that it was not their victory, but God’s. As he stated, ‘the Lord hath given you the city.’ The wall indeed fell, and they took the city.—vs. 20
As we strive to conquer the foes that at times seem so impenetrable to us as natural men, we, too, must realize that the power of God works in many different ways to perform his will through us. As the Prophet Isaiah says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.”—Isa. 59:1
We have at our disposal the greatest power in the universe—God himself! We must be humble, submitting to his use of that power to our highest spiritual benefit, rather than trying to fight the enemy according to our own fleshly tendencies. This would surely lead to failure.
We should always remember that in all of our battles it is the Lord who is in control. He assures us of the victory if we keep our faith and trust in him, and obey his unerring instructions.
“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—I Cor. 15:57