When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed.

 Joshua 6:20

The siege of Jericho would have been something to see.

Can’t you just picture it? Armed forces taking the lead followed by the priests with the Ark of the Covenant hoisted onto their shoulders, trumpets blasting as they stepped out with purpose in obedience to the Lord.

The story of the walls tumbling down is made even more fantastic when you consider these were some of the very “walls that reached up to the sky” spoken of in Deuteronomy 1:28. These walls, along with the ‘giants’ who lived within them, brought much fear and discouragement to the Israelites. They had no idea how they would defeat such a strong and seemingly impenetrable fortress. These people of Deuteronomy could not find the faith to trust God and march out with purpose. Instead their feet would be found wandering in the desert working on putting their trust in God.

But here in Joshua, a new generation has appeared. Their trek through the wilderness has produced the desired result. This time, the Israelites marched out in unity and confidently followed the Lord’s instruction. The result: success and complete victory. That’s what following God’s commands produces. You can rely on it.

This story makes me wonder.

If we just had the strength and courage to follow His instructions, what would happen? What obstacles could we overcome? How would the world change, personally and globally, if we trusted God’s ways of grace and obeyed His command of loving our neighbors? [Matthew 22:36-40] If we were united and marched together in God’s plan, then what? Hope would be found, that’s what. The walls of suffering, injustice, and oppression would lie in a heap of smoldering ash. And we, along with the rest of the world, would be changed for the good. We would see that God’s strategies work and only need to be put into practice to bring victory and success.

What keeps us from stepping forward to march out?

Are the walls of despair too high to overcome or the fear of the ‘giants’ too big to overthrow? Trust God’s instruction. Put His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control into practice. These qualities of God’s character make a lot of noise. In fact, they will shake those negatives of fear, despair and oppression turning them into rubble. Take action and bring some walls down.

The world is waiting.

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.  For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth [for] the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Psalm 47:12 Psalm 33:11