Your Daily Bible Verse - Trusting God's Unusual Instructions (Joshua 6:20)

0:00Life Audio Hello and thank you for listening to your daily Bible verse. The podcast that examines one verse each day to learn more about God and His will for us. I'm your host, Jessica Vanrokel. And after this short word from our sponsor, we'll continue our series titled Trusting God One Step at a Time, with a discussion on verse Joshua, chapter 6, verse 20. They say higher education is outdated, that it's irrelevant, but Grand Canyon University doesn't settle for the status quo. They shatter it. At GCU, programs are built to move at the speed of relevance. That means academically rigorous, industry-driven programs focused on practical skills and career readiness.

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2:12full audio Bibles, interactive graphics, and more. Also available in Spanish. See it for yourself at slasb.com. Today's Bible verses Joshua, chapter 6, verse 20. So the people shouted and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. I serve with an organization that reaches lost teens with the good news of Jesus. We meet weekly and plan occasional day trips. Our recent event landed us at a water park for daring adventure or relaxing on the lazy river. But getting there required trusting my GPS because I had never been to this water park. There were times when I doubted the directions. It felt like I was driving down back roads into the wilds of the prairie

3:18and I wondered if we'd ever arrive at our destination or if we would end up on the other side of the state. Following directions requires a level of trust. It's easy when they make sense, but it's harder when they seem inefficient, unnecessary, or frankly even a little ridiculous. But Joshua and the Israelites faced those kinds of instructions. Instead of siege ramps or battering rams, God instructed them to march and march and march some more. Human logic may have chuckled at the ridiculousness of the strategy. Joshua chapter 6, however, reminds us how God's victories often come through obedience before understanding. God said, I have given Jericho into your hand. In God's eyes it was already done. But to the Israelites, they needed to follow through on God's instructions. For six days, they were to march around the city following the ark of the covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around seven times, blow trumpets and shout.

4:26While these instructions seemed like poor strategy from a military perspective, they do make sense from a faith perspective. To march required total and complete dependence on God. It required great faith from Joshua as he had to explain and then execute the plan. It also required great faith from the people because they needed to follow Joshua's instructions who frankly did not hesitate to obey God's unusual instructions. You see, normally the priests in the ark did not go with the Israelites into battle, but this time it did. Some scholars say it helped keep the people's hearts and minds on the Lord who was present with them instead of having their eyes focused on the task in front of them. The city of Jericho covered about eight acres. It was a fortress city surrounded by walls that may have been 30 feet high and about 20 feet thick.

5:26Fortress cities were places of refuge and protection for those inside the city and those who lived in the country surrounding it would come into it for protection. Archaeology reveals the people of Jericho practiced idolatry, cults, violence, child sacrifice and communicating with the dead. Their complete destruction would safeguard Israel from their influence. The people of Jericho believed their city was protected by Canaanite gods and could not be conquered yet. In their hearts, they melted with fear and they shut the gates because of the one true God. Even though God promised victory to Joshua and the Israelites, he gave them something to do to be in partnership with him. Obedience before the fall of Jericho didn't mean they wouldn't need courage. Walking around the walls of Jericho meant they were open to attack from the high position of the walls.

6:26The promised victory required endurance to persist in an activity that didn't make much sense. Their helplessness became increasingly evident as they looked at those walls up close for six days. Then, the seventh day, the Sabbath dawned, they made seven laps, marching silently, following the priests and the ark. Then, after days of silence they were commanded to shout. They lifted their voices in recognition that God would give them what he had promised. The walls fell flat and the people went up into the city to conquer it. Joshua and the people witnessed a direct act of God. They conquered Jericho because of their obedience to God's unusual instructions and their faith in his miraculous power. God invited them into his work by giving them something to do. God invites us to partner with him too. He calls us to live a life for him and empowers us to do so while at the same time giving us the responsibility of throwing off the things that hinder us from loving him and living with him with our whole hearts.

7:47At times, it won't make sense to those around us, but when we obey, victory follows. Take a moment to ask God if there's an area that needs conquering in your life and what you need to do so that he can win the battle. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you so much that you've just asked us to trust you and to obey. Lord, yes, sometimes like the Israelites around Jericho, the things you ask us to do don't really make sense from a human point of view. But from your point of view, it's exactly what needs to happen so that you can have total victory. God, we give you our lives. Where in our lives are we preventing you from having victory by refusing to maybe obey wholeheartedly or refusing to look at our lives through your lens of mercy and grace and power and strength.

8:47Lord, we love you and we want to live for you and we want today to be the day that you get total victory in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. On the historical Jesus' podcast, as I explore the interesting, compelling, intriguing, and wonderful miracle stories of the Bible and the many great miraculous events inspired by the words and deeds of Jesus Christ.

9:47And in their story, each week you'll hear powerful comeback stories from women who've walked through the fire and come out stronger if you're navigating chain or dreaming about what's next you're not alone. Follow hope to the journey on your favorite podcast app and find the hope that you've been looking for.