Hi. Welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host of the daily challenges. Today is Tuesday, the day we study the Bible together. This week we’re going to study how God is Powerful.

We studied recently how God had finally said Israel’s time of wandering in the desert was done, and he would finally admit them to the Promised Land he said they’d someday inhabit.  We heard about them sending spies into the fortified city of Jericho, and how a prostitute named Rahab helped the spies escape.

So what did they do next?  Attack?  Run away?  No…they waited for God’s plan, which was really very strange:

Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.” And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD.” (Joshua 6:1-7 ESV)

We have a quite a contrast.  We have a fortified city that has shut itself off from attack.  The people there are relying on their fortifications and weapons to protect them.  Against them stands an army of people who’ve been wandering in the desert 40 years.  They are told to march around the city with trumpets, and since the entire city is shut down, no one will stop them.

So, Joshua gave the order for the Ark of the Covenant to lead the people around the city.  The ark was a tangible reminder of God’s law, and how the Israelites had broken it, yet God still kept his covenant with them.

But what’s the use?  Why would they ever follow through on this plan?  Because God promised the walls would fall down if they followed his instructions, and for once, it seems like they believe him.  They actually trust God is more powerful than the walls of a mighty city.  They actually trust God more than themselves!

Question: How do you react to this plan?  Does it seem reasonable?

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