Trusting God with a Strange Plan

DECEMBER 19, 2025

 

JOSHUA 6:16b-17

“the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord.”


The way I see it, Joshua, a newly appointed leader, was staring down what must have felt like an impossible assignment. Sure, God had called him to lead Israel into the Promised Land, look at the very first challenge for Joshua, it was a huge, a walled, heavily fortified city. Jericho wasn’t exactly an easy starting point.

And then there was the "battle" plan. God told his people, not to rush in or attack right away, but to wait. For seven days. This was not to be a passive kind of waiting either. Every day they were to march around the city, and on the seventh day, they were to circle it seven times.

I can’t help but wonder how strange, or even pointless, that must have felt to the people. It probably didn’t look much like a battle plan at all. But Joshua, God’s chosen leader, trusted God to fulfill the promise. And the people followed Joshua in obedience, even when the plan didn’t make sense from a human point of view. I love what Joshua encouraged his people to do during this waiting time: “Love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, keep His commandments, hold fast to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and soul” (Joshua 22:5). That’s great advice for us as well. In gratitude for the gift of Jesus, we are to live and walk in obedience to God every day. Be faithful! Let God handle the things He does best. Follow His call and serve Him with all our hearts and souls. Maybe that’s the whole point of this story—faithfulness.


LET'S PRAY

Jesus, I am humbled that You call me to serve in ways that accomplish Your purposes. Help me respond without hesitation whenever I hearYour voice calling me into action.

Amen.