Seasons of warfare may leave you a little parched and possibly in need of a proper refreshing.
It is interesting how the cycle that is receiving God’s promises can seemingly portray itself as the biggest nightmare yet. It further frustrates if surrounded by a loving people quick to remind you what you already know without acknowledging the reality of what it is.
Truth is that we serve a loving Father that would definitely not strike you for speaking out. He took it a step further by giving us a High Priest that is not lost at the grief that we go through in this journey of faith.
That in itself was an invitation to honest conversations with Him.
Papa doesn’t want us to shelve what we feel rather be aware of it then acknowledge His sovereignty over the situation.
For Him to speak life and awaken faith in you.
Because Faith is His love language even as He meets us at ours.
Intimacy is all about making that step outside of ours to meet our lover’s needs.
That is what the Lover of our souls does and we as His beloved pursue the same to keep that love tank full.
So here goes Joshua, one of the two surviving people that made it to Canaan after a whole 40 years of going in cycles in the wilderness from Egypt. They made a declaration of faith to occupy a land that seemed impossible to partake according to the other ten.
They were confident of their God.
They were assured as His children.
I bet they weren’t ready to do it without Moses, it seemed almost obvious that he would be there too. Possibly why God dedicated most of Joshua chapter one to remind this servant that he is more than able for the task ahead.
Then comes phase one of taking over and the instructions sound as bizarre as it could get.
Go round the Jericho in silence for six days,
On the seventh day, make six rounds silently and on the seventh release a cry of victory.
Papa goes ahead to give them directions on the arrangement for the march, with the priests taking lead carrying the ark of the covenant.
Eerrrrm…honestly this Miss would definitely have had trouble following through.
What do you mean please?😂
I’m ready for the big action and all the hullabaloo,
some serious hostile takeover and dig into the spoils of war 💪🏼.
All you want is for me to walk around this wall in silence?
Truly truly?
Not even some good music to go with this brisk walk you have called upon me?
Ah😂…entertain the watchtower guards as they wonder at the level of my insanity?
God has quite a sense of humor for sure😂.
Nevertheless, Character Development advanced course it was😅.
For six days they went round the Jericho wall, not a single sound from them.
Even on the seventh day for six rounds nothing but the shuffling of feet around that perimeter wall.
Then gave the seventh round a great punch and the wall came tumbling down right in front of them.
An exhibit of total obedience and surrender it was.
It wasn’t that our God couldn’t save them in a whim, rather a display of what obedience could avail. The march was more about serving the children of Israel than a showcase of God’s might. It was to build their faith, a bold declaration of their identity as His children.
‘Papa said we do this and we shall follow through. I know He promised victory over the occupants of this promised land so we are standing on His word, and that is what matters.’
It was their first of many conquests and in His own wisdom, God chose to remind them who He was to them. A Father. It might have felt a tad bit unconventional and Joshua might have just been at a loss on how to deliver this message to the Israelites. Better yet, the brokenness of this a people on display ready to pursue it as tasked of Him, finally ready to engage in the journey that was to occupy a land long promised might have been overwhelming.
Nevertheless, God still needed them to follow through as asked and that is exactly what led them to the other side of victory. An unusual unexpected approach brought in resounding measure of result. The beginning of many of the winning streaks they experienced under Joshua’s leadership.
Maybe your ‘character development’ phase felt like it has run longer than anticipated.
Or maybe just purely unnecessary for the matter in pursuit.
Probably dancing on the borderline of it being an insane request being tasked of you.
Or you just don’t want to tuck away the big guns in exchange for a silent brisk walk envisioning a victory promised.
Whatever it is, the one lesson learnt amongst many is that someone’s destiny might be pegged on your obedience.
Rahab’s turn around was as a result of this same experience and out of her was the Davidic lineage. A total dimension shift for a woman greatly scorned by society over her life choices yet chose to partner with God where the children of Israelites were concerned.
Above it all, the experience got to breath life into the faith of a people who had waited centuries for the manifestation of a word given to them.
A reminder that in the journey which is the occupying,
even here learning, unlearning and relearning takes place.
Crown to it all being:
Though it tarried, it surely came to pass.
Hugs and Kisses 😘
HIGHCARBLIVING 