"WAITING,........WALKING,.............AND NO TALKING!!! 

(God's plan for conquering Jericho).


After Joshua led the Israelites across the river Jordan and into the Promised Land of Canaan--------they came up to the walled city of Jericho!!!

Here, Joshua was made clearly aware that GOD HIMSELF is in charge!!!!  It was Joshua's task, as it is ours, to know the Commander.  We need to be on HIS side, not He on our side.

Read God's Word here-----

"And it came to pass, when Joshua
was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes
and looked, and behold, a Man stood
opposite him with His sword drawn.
in His hand.  And Joshua went to Him
and said to Him, 'Are You for us or
for our adversaries?

"So He said, '...No, but as Commander
of the army of the Lord I have now
come.'  And Joshua fell on his face to
the earth and worshiped, and said to
Him,  'What does my Lord say to His
servant?

"Then the Commander of the Lord's
army said to Joshua, 'take your sandal
off your foot, for the place where you
stand is holy."  And Joshua did so."
(Joshua 5:13-15)


The Destruction of Jericho

"Now Jericho was securely shut up
because of the children of Israel;
none went out, and none came in.

"And the Lord said to Joshua: "See!
I have given Jericho into your hand,
its king,, and the mighty men of valor.

You shall march around the city,
all you men of war; you shall go all
around the city once.  This you shall do
six days. (Joshua 6:1-5)

"Now Joshua had commanded the
people, saying,  "You shall not shout or
make any noise with your voice, nor
shall a word proceed out of your
mouth, until the day I say to you.
'Shout!'  Then you shall shout."
(Joshua 6:1-5; 10)

Right about now.....you may be thinking..."Why did he command them  'You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of  your mouth...."

You might even be thinking..."I would not like that!"

(Well, I would not like that either; but Holy God has a lesson here for me and for you-----just as He did for the Israelites!

Many texts in God's Word tell us to "wait on God", to stand still, to be silent before Him (Exodus 14:13-14; Psalm 37:7-8, etc.).  When Joshua commanded them to be silent......he was probably remembering that Israel's 40 year punishment in the wilderness was a result of the people's murmuring in unbelief. (Numbers 14:26-35)

***[I, Barry, must confess---as I was reviewing this message--the Holy Spirit seriously convicted me about my murmuring and complaining, and strongly reminded me of how much  God dislikes it!!!  Oh God Most High, I confess my sin, I ask You to forgive me, and I ask Your enablement to repent--- (change my heart and behavior. Thank You!!!!!!!  Amen)**

Now, with that history lesson in mind, Joshua's directive to keep silent is a precaution that teaches us.  When we face great challenges, don't permit your lips to speak unbelieving words.  Words can bind up or set free, so Joshua gave the order for silence!

We can't always help what we see or hear, but if we refuse to speak doubt or fear.....it will keep our hearts more inclined to what GOD can do, rather than what we cannot see!!!!!!!

"And Joshua rose early in the morning,
and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

"Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets
of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went
on continually and blew with the trumpets.  and
the armed men went before them.  But the rear
guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the
priests continued blowing the trumpets.

"And the second day they marched around the
city once and returned to the camp.  So they did
six days.

"But it came to pass on the seventh day that they
rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched
around the city seven (!!!) times in the same manner.
On that day only they marched around the city
seven times." (Joshua 6:12-15)


(verse 20)-
"So the people shouted when the priests blew the
trumpets..  And it happened when the people heard
the sound of the trumpet, and they shouted with a
great shout, that the wall fell down flat.  Then the
people went up into the city, every man straight before
him, and they took the city."!!!!!!!
(Joshua 6:20)

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!


Wow!!!  If obedient silence, followed by an obedient shout, caused a wall to fall and a city to be taken.................what could God do with an obedient prayer lifted up in "...the name above every name...JESUS CHRIST" (Philippians 2:9)???

Let me tell you a true story abut prayer and our brothers and sisters that are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ!!!

In a country where Christians are persecuted by the military forces....

A small local church planned to baptize some of its members in a local river....

The local military commander had been informed of the planned baptism, and he was determined to stop the baptism and imprison the church members.  But it was a hot, humid day.....so the military commander decided that first, they would go swimming!

While the troops were cooling off in the river..... a breeze sprang up.....and it blew away the clothes of the commander (only)!!!   Humiliated, the commander ordered his troops to return back to their base (without him).  The commander stayed in the water until dark.....and walked home in the dark.....naked.

(The people were indeed baptized in the river, as the Lord had planned).

So, What should you, and I do (daily)???

Jesus Christ's chosen and beloved ones, let us:

1) Ask God for His plans,
2) follow His directions,
  and "be silent", "shout", or "pray" in  JESUS CHRIST'S HOLY NAME!!!!!!!!!
and flood the atmosphere with thanksgiving, praise, and worship to  "THE LORD, THE MOSH HIGH GOD "!!!!!!!!!!!! (Genesis 14:22)