When God Calls You to Do Crazy Things: Lessons from the Battle of Jericho

Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do something that seemed completely illogical? Maybe you're walking through a season where you're faithfully following God's instructions, but you can't see any progress. The story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho offers profound insights into what it means to have faith when God's plan doesn't make sense to our human understanding.

What Does It Mean to Have Faith?

Faith is essentially trust. When you sit in a chair, you're having faith that it will hold you up. In Hebrews 11:30, we read: "It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days and the walls came crashing down." This wasn't just belief - it was active trust that led to obedient action.

Think about it like a basketball court. Whether you're playing at home or away, the fundamentals remain the same - the free throw line is always 15 feet from the goal, and the goal is always 10 feet high. The arena might be different, but the basics never change. Similarly, while our circumstances may vary, God's faithfulness remains constant.

Who Was Joshua and What Made Him Special?

Joshua was Moses' right-hand man who had just become the newly inaugurated leader of Israel. He was one of only two spies (along with Caleb) who brought back a good report when they scouted the Promised Land. While ten other spies said the giants were too big, Joshua and Caleb declared, "Sure, the people are strong, but our God is stronger."

Here's something worth noting: we don't remember the names of the ten fearful spies. Why? Because nobody remembers cowards. We remember those who were willing to stand up in faith, even when it seemed crazy.

What Did God Promise Joshua?

In Joshua 1:1-5, God made incredible promises: "Wherever you set foot, you will be on the land I have given you... No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you. I will not abandon you."

This wasn't because Joshua was awesome - it was because God promised to be with him. The same promise applies to us today: God will never leave us or forsake us.

The Mysterious Commander

Before the battle, Joshua encountered a man with a drawn sword near Jericho's walls. When Joshua asked, "Are you friend or foe?" the man replied, "Neither. I am the commander of the Lord's army."

This was a profound moment. The question wasn't whether God was on Joshua's side - the question was whether Joshua was on God's side. This mysterious figure (likely Jesus appearing in the Old Testament) made it clear: "I don't work for you. You work for me."

Why Did God's Battle Plan Seem So Crazy?

God's instructions for conquering Jericho were bizarre by military standards:

• March around the city once a day for six days in complete silence
• Put the Ark of the Covenant (God's presence) at the front
• On the seventh day, march around seven times
• Shout, and God would handle the rest

To make matters more challenging, God had just commanded all the male soldiers to be circumcised, leaving them vulnerable and in pain. Why would God do this right before battle? To show them that victory and strength don't belong to them - they belong to the Lord.

What's the Real Point of This Story?

Many people read this story and see themselves as Joshua, expecting God to knock down their personal "walls." But here's the truth: if we're looking for ourselves in this story, we're actually Jericho.

Jericho represents the citadel of our sin that stood between us and salvation. Jesus is the true Joshua (both names mean "the Lord saves") who, through His death on the cross, brought down the walls of sin and death that held us captive. When He cried "It is finished," the barrier was destroyed.

The Christian life isn't about what we do for God - it's about what He has done for us. These aren't our battles that God assists us in; they're His battles that He calls us to join Him in.

The Danger of Taking Matters Into Our Own Hands

After the victory at Jericho, a man named Achan disobeyed God's instructions and took some devoted items for himself. This brought consequences not just on him, but on all of Israel. When we try to orchestrate God's plan ourselves instead of waiting on His timing, we often create more problems.

This happens when we:

• Try to pressure someone into salvation instead of letting the Holy Spirit work
• Quit a job in frustration instead of waiting to see what God might do
• Settle for the wrong relationship because we're tired of waiting
• Attempt to earn our salvation through good works instead of trusting in Christ

When You Feel Like You're Walking in Circles

Sometimes obedience feels like walking in circles around an unchanging wall. You're reading your Bible, praying, serving, but you don't see any "bricks falling." You might be struggling with depression, anxiety, difficult relationships, or financial stress, wondering "How much longer, God?"

Remember this truth: Even when you can't see it, God is working. Even when you can't feel it, He never stops working. The Israelites walked around Jericho for six days without seeing a single brick fall, but God was working the entire time.

Persistence is faith expressed over time. It's easy to have a big moment of faith, but persistence says, "I believe You are working just like You promised, even though I don't see it yet."

Life Application

This week, choose to act like every "lap" around your current challenge is your last. Instead of asking God to join your plans, surrender to His leadership and ask how you can join what He's doing. Trust that He is working even when you can't see progress, and remember that the greatest miracle isn't getting what you want - it's having your heart transformed by the Savior who conquered sin and death for you.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I trying to be the commander of my own life, or am I following Jesus as the true Commander?
• What "walls" am I trying to knock down in my own strength instead of trusting God's timing and methods?
• How can I show persistence in faith this week, even if I don't see immediate results?
• Am I reading my circumstances as someone who needs God's help, or as someone who has already been rescued by God's grace?

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