[A personal note: i actually wrote this blog post several weeks ago – before the events of January 6th. But once those events occurred, i paused its publication because i did not want anyone to mistakenly connect what i was saying with that event. This is a post about the confidence we can have in God in every circumstance we may encounter or experience in our lives. It is not about armed rebellion. It’s about a trustworthy God!]

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We see a sharp contrast between two groups of people when we read the account of the Israelites marching around the walls of Jericho.(1) On one side of the wall stood the people of Israel. They were confident and assured that, though they were facing an imposing enemy, their God would grant them victory. They weren’t trusting in any person, or any group of people; nor was their confidence in their own power or ability. Their confidence was in their God!

On the other side of the wall stood the citizens of Jericho, as they cowered in fear. It wasn’t a reverent fear of God; rather, it was a paralyzing fear.(2) They knew the God of the Israelites had already given their land to His people.(3)

The posture of both of those groups of people was completely determined by their view of God. Thirty-five hundred years later in 2021, that is still the case. Our posture is also completely determined by our view of God. We face many unknowns, just like they did. The enemies we face may look different, but the God we follow is not!

The king of Jericho had stiffened his neck and resolved that the God of Israel would not be their Master. It’s interesting that rather than seeking war, or seeking peace, he simply chose to shut his people off from what stood outside their walls. He could have led his warriors on the offensive to attack the Israelites. Jericho had the high ground and the “home field” advantage. Scripture refers to their “strong warriors,” so they did not lack fighting strength. Or the king could have led his people to surrender and seek peace – to petition the Israelites – and their God – for mercy. Having heard of His might and His majesty, they could have beseeched His saving grace. 

And i can’t help but wonder, what would God have done if the people of Jericho had surrendered their lives to Him and cried out for mercy? Perhaps the experience of the Ninevites(4) gives us insight into the grace and mercy He would have extended to them. But we’ll never know, because they chose to hide behind their walls. It was the choice that failed to reflect courage, or reverence, or awe, or respect. It reflected a total lack of understanding and discernment of that moment in time for the people of Jericho. They did not know the time in which they lived – or even an opportunity that perched on their doorstep if they would but seize it. Instead, they huddled in fear behind their walls.

For seven days they watched the Israelites march around the walls of the city led by the Ark of God. As the days went on, i wonder how they perceived what was taking place. Did they continue to watch in fear, or did they begin to ridicule the Israelites for simply marching around the outside of the city? Did the Jerichoites stop what they were doing to watch what was going on, or did they just continue to go about their business as usual inside the city walls? One thing we know for sure is that they never expected what happened. They never imagined their walls would simply crumble. They thought their walls would protect them. They took great pride in their mighty walls.

But before the walls ever came down, God said, “I have given you Jericho…”(5) He didn’t say, “I will give you Jericho….” The work had already been decided. God knew how the people of Jericho had set their hearts against Him. His plan was in place. And His plan accomplished in His way will always demonstrate His Lordship. He is the Master over all – even Jericho.

God’s plan didn’t entail any military maneuvers. No battering rams were used; only rams’ horns. You can always tell God’s plan versus ours, because:

1. Through it, He demonstrates His power – not ours. God’s activity is God-sized. He is God; even the winds and the storms obey Him. His might, strength and power will be seen through transformed lives, divine appointments, perfect timing, supernatural grace, or circumstances that can only be explained by His activity.

2. Through it, He magnifies His presence – not ours. The Ark of His presence went conspicuously before His people. He did not slip into the back row to bless the effort of the people; He was the Champion, the Victor and the only One who was completely in charge. And His presence overshadows everything else.

3. Through it, He fulfills His promise – not ours. He makes the promise. Our role is to respond by faith. God’s plan will ALWAYS require our faith. He has told us that it is impossible to please Him without faith.(6) As God leads us in His plan, it will always be preceded by His Word. And “God isnot a man, that He should lie….”(7) His promise will require our faith. What we do in response to His promise will reveal what we really believe about Him, and what He has said!

Many of us may be facing a Jericho moment in our lives right now. 2021 has the potential to be filled with many such moments. And God’s plan may look most unusual to you from your vantage point. But if you know that you are doing what He has told you to do, than keep walking around those walls and trust Him to tear them down. God has never lost! And He never will! Surrender your fear, your anxiety, even your doubt to Him. Trust Him. Remain confident in Him and shout! “For the LORD has given you the town!”(8)

This week i want to again point you to a song that will encourage you in this truth. It’s entitled “Never Lost.” Below are the lyrics and a link so you can listen to it. Take the time to be encouraged and refreshed by this reminder in song.

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This post is adapted from Possessing The Promise, chapter 15 entitled “A Most Unusual Battleplan”. This third book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

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(1)  Joshua 6:1-16 (NLT)

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the LORD said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”

(2)  Joshua 5:1

(3)  Joshua 2:9

(4)  Jonah 3:10

(5)  Joshua 6:2

(6)  Hebrews 11:6

(7)  Numbers 23:19 (NKJ)

(8)  Joshua 6:16

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

Never Lost

Miracles when You move
Such an easy thing for You to do
Your hand is moving right now
You are still showing up
At the tomb of every Lazarus
Your voice is calling me out 

Right now, I know You're able
My God, come through again 

You can do all things
You can do all things but fail
'Cause You've never lost a battle
No, You've never lost a battle
And I know, I know You never will

Everything's possible
By the power of the Holy Ghost
A new wind is blowing right now
Breaking my heart of stone
Taking over like it's Jericho
And my walls are all crashing down 

You've never lost a battle
You've never lost a battle
You've never lost a battle
You never will 

And I know, I know You never will

Songwriters: Christopher Joel Brown/ Steven Furtick/ Tiffany Hammer

Never Lost lyrics © Essential Music Publishing

Never Lost (Official Lyric Video) performed by CeCe Winans