Choices in an Impossible Situation
The walls were thick and high. The conquest insurmountable. The opposition large and fierce. The defenses intractable.
Sound familiar? I could be talking about a strong-willed toddler or teenager, or a persistent sinful thought pattern. I might be talking about a job God has called me to do, about the clutter in my house, or about Jericho. Or maybe it’s all these. In every case, though the choices I make are crucial, I am not guaranteed the success I desire. I cannot count on “the other guy” to respond as desired. The outcome I am looking for might not be the one that God has worked out as the best thing for all “those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”
Moses was dead, God had buried him. Joshua was leading Israel. All that time he had spent in the “tent of meeting” meeting with God was still not enough to remove his fears; God must repeatedly tell him to be strong and courageous and not afraid! After God had shown Joshua the plan for taking down a key obstacle (the super-strong city of Jericho) to their God-directed conquest of Canaan, a man with a drawn sword shows up. Threat or help? Joshua asks if the man is for Israel or their enemies. “Neither,” is the response, “I am the Commander of Heaven’s armies!” On his face, Joshua worships the One in whose hands is the battle, submitting to His authority, whatever the outcome.
Insisting on my way (entitlement), whining about the process (complaining), or waiting for a guarantee (unbelief) before I choose to trust God in my difficulties places me in opposition to the Commander of Heaven’s armies. I must choose to be aligned with His heart.
God’s strategy for taking down the city of Jericho included a six-day prayer and worship walk around the target. Only the footfalls of the men carrying the ark of the covenant and the fore- and rear- guards were heard between the bugling calls of the shofars during each of the marches. No shouting, no fussing, no cat-calls or threats. Just the wordless announcement that the God who created heaven and earth was “in the house.” The seventh day all of the armed men of Israel marched in silence around the city until the signal blast. With a shout, the fortified structure collapsed inward and the conquerors went to work with swords, everything in the city being marked for complete destruction because it had been devoted to evil and idolatry.
I am looking for what my strategy needs to be in my impossible situation, my strongly fortified “city marked out for destruction” because it opposes God.
How can I wordlessly declare, “The God who created heaven and earth is in the house!”? How long until I get the signal to shout and take down all the opposition?
In the meantime, God reminds me that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, though many times it comes to us clothed in humanity. I am eagerly awaiting that seventh day, the day of completion, when the walls collapse and all the wicked, idolatrous things get burned! Keep listening. You might hear me shout!
Following Jesus (around the fortified walls) every day in the everyday,
Christi
0 Comments