How often have you faced a circumstance that was impossible? Have you ever received a calling from the Lord that seemed impossible? Life seems to be filled with impossibilities. Every time God has called me to do something the first thing I do is notice the impossibilities. Joshua chapter 6 is a story about the impossible outcome that God promised.
In this story, I believe there is a discovery we often forget about. We concentrate on Israel marching around the walls 7 times, and then the walls fall down by the power of God. What we can’t lose sight of are the 6 days they marched one time. Neither can we forget about marching 6 times before the 7th time on day 7.
The war strategy seems absurd. The plan of God was for them to simply trust God to do the work. All they had to do was all they could give which is always nothing. We have nothing to offer but our obedience. Everyone knows that the number for completion and perfection is the number 7. As well the number for men is the number 6. The completion and perfection of the number 7 can be seen in creation. The year of jubilee. The tribulation period. Either the number 7 or a multiple of 7 is clearly seen over and over in scripture. Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Six is described as the number of men.
What I believe is important not to forget is that they had to march around the walls 6 times before they got to the 7th time. Man must come to an end of himself before he can get to the beginning of the power of God. In man’s strength, they could not penetrate the walls of Jericho. The impossibility was clearly seen. What if one day 5 discouragement set in on following the plan of God and the people just gave up? What if on the final day they made the trip 6 full times, but through weariness never traveled that 7th time around the walls? Most people don’t want to come to the end of themselves. Psalm 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. This indicates they have surrendered that all their skill and wisdom are no longer enough. Man cannot sustain himself.
When we are at our wit’s end it is then that God’s plan is ready to begin. Remember the word came to Joshua before the marched the first day, the first time. Remember that to get to the victory of the word of the Lord for your life will bring you to your wit’s end before you get there. God expects us to do all we can do. God expects us to come to a complete end of ourselves. Don’t just sit and wait on God to move. Walk 6 times. Keep pushing toward the mark. Keep trusting and believing the strategy of God. Your encounter is just ahead. God’s power will be revealed when it looks completely impossible. Just keep marching.
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Thanks Jeff...