Outrageous Commands from an Outstanding God

Text: Joshua 6:1-21 Theme: Nothing is too difficult for God when His people obey  Key verses: “Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city…” (v. 1-3a) “They did this for 6 days. On the seventh day, they…marched around seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, ‘Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!'” (v. 14b-16) “When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted…the wall collapsed: so every man charged in, and they took the city.” (v. 20) What God said to me: Dwayne, my son, never question my authority and ability. Jericho was closed up so tightly that no human could penetrate it. It was a formidable barrier that stood between my people and my will for them. Could I have brought the wall down without all that marching and shouting and fanfare? Of course I could have. But what brought that giant hindrance and prohibitive obstacle down was a combination of my power and my people’s obedience. I commanded them to put forth extra effort, even exhaustive effort for some of them. What they had to do challenged their faith in me and their confidence in Joshua’s leadership. It was an outrageous and unprecedented requirement. Never had anyone had to march conspicuously around and around a fortified city. So what are the applications for you today? Dwayne, you have some seemingly unpenetrable barriers facing you. You can’t cause certain key people to act certain key ways. You can’t force certain key companies to open their doors to your ideas and needs. Basically you can’t move forward in key areas because of walls that hold you back. Dwayne, my son, I can and will break down those walls, divinely and miraculously. It will done in my time and in my way. Do whatever thing I lead and command you. Don’t question me no matter how outrageous it may appear to you and to others. Be faithful. Put forth extra effort. But more than anything trust and obey me with joy and thanksgiving ahead of the barrier-busting moment. What I said to God: Thank You, precious, precious God and Lord. I so appreciate You speaking so directly to my heart this morning. You know I am battling some discouragement and You have stepped right in through Your written Word and renewed my thinking once again! Praise You forever and ever! May Your Kingdom come and Your holy will be done both in my life and in the lives of my family today. I love You.