March On

I believe it’s significant that Spring is in the month of March. After two months into the new year perhaps we need to put a little pep in our step, reaffirm our January commitments, spiritually refresh our dreams and desires, and begin marching towards a new season. Marching, far from a passive stance, requires both determination and deliberation. I walk regularly for both physical exercise and spiritual renewal. While I maintain a steady walking pace, I’m not hurried; allowing time to greet neighbors and pausing occasionally to appreciate the beauty of nature. Marchers on the other hand, move with intentionality and focus. Rather than retreat, marchers move forward with purpose, on purpose, and for a purpose. As I reflect upon this, I am led to consider Joshua Son of Nun, the faithful apprentice of Moses.

After the death of Moses, Joshua is promoted from assistant to the new leader of the people of Israel. God then commissions Joshua with the God-sized task of leading the nation of Israel to their promised destination, which will also require God-sized faith. Joshua is fully aware that obstacles and opposition lay on the path ahead, but he views God’s personal promises to him as far greater than any problems he may encounter. Empowered by the charge to remain bold and courageous, Joshua summons his confidence, rallies his troops and moves forward.

Joshua’s career is launched with an initial major success as he triumphantly leads God’s people safely across the Jordan River. On this glorious day God establishes Joshua as a great leader in the eyes of the Israelites, and they place their trust in Him! Immediately following this astounding victory, the Lord directs Joshua to construct a memorial consisting of twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, which would serve as a visible sign to the people of their miraculous rescue through the sea. This symbolic act was actually quite significant, as the Israelites were unfortunately all too often prone to forget God’s saving power, and they would need to recount this miracle, as they faced their next challenge; Jericho.

March on…
Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut…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…. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times…. When you hear the 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…. On the seventh day the Israelites marched around the town… seven times…. When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it.”
Joshua 6:1-5,15 & 20 NLT

I absolutely love this inspiring historical account! In addition to being an amazing tale of victory, it also serves as a wonderful reminder that great achievements are not solely dependent on strategic planning, exuberant strength or even sincere effort, but much more significantly are the result of completely trusting and wholeheartedly following God’s methods, and oftentimes unique strategies for success. I can only imagine that prior to the Jericho victory, the Israelites may very well have questioned Joshua’s unconventional strategic military plan.
Why all the marching? Why do we have to wait for a signal to shout? Why can’t we just walk? I’m tired! When’s lunch?

While we may never know the thoughts and conversations of the Israelites as they entered Jericho on this momentous day, what we do know is exactly what we need to know. And what we do know is practical, applicable and relative to our lives today. The following is what we can glean from Joshua, Jericho and the marchers. God promised the Israelites, first through Moses and then through Joshua, a land of their own; a promised land. As the Israelites journeyed to take hold of their land, they would discover that the path to promise was not without problems. Success would require them to follow God’s leading, God’s timing and God’s methods. Through Joshua, God gave the Israelites explicit instructions in regards to His plan for when He wanted them to walk, to rest, to shout, and as was the case in Jericho, to march.

As I reflect on this story, I realize that it’s also my story. In the very same way that God made amazing promises to the Israelites, He has also made some God-sized promises to me. However, obtaining these promises will require me to listen to God’s instructions, follow His plans, and trust in His methods for victory. This will require intentional listening and radical obedience. Practically lived out, this means when God says walk, I walk. When He says, run, I run, and when God says march… I march.

As I turned the calendar page this week, I was reminded once again that much like the Israelites, I too have some Jericho walls of my own that need to come down. I’ve been trusting, hoping, and continually praying for change, but the walls are fortified and exceedingly strong. I am fully aware that it is completely impossible for me to take these walls down on my own. At the same time I am also absolutely convinced that God Who makes the impossible possible, is more than able to demolish the unseen spiritual fortresses in my life that seek to hinder, bind and block my forward motion. Having received abundant encouragement through this extraordinary narrative, I commit all the more to press on with a revived faith, an anchored hope, and an unwavering trust in the God Who never changes. Motivated by the Israelites’ victory in Jericho, I believe I’ll begin transforming my walking steps into a march this month as I press on towards my promise.
God bless you friends!