"God spoke to Joshua, “Look sharp now. I’ve already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its crack troops. Here’s what you are to do: March around the city, all your soldiers. Circle the city once. Repeat this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s horn trumpets in front of the Chest. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, the priests blowing away on the trumpets. And then, a long blast on the ram’s horn—when you hear that, all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs. The city wall will collapse at once. All the people are to enter, every man straight on in. So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and told them, “Take up the Chest of the Covenant. Seven priests are to carry seven ram’s horn trumpets leading God’s Chest.” Then he told the people, “Set out! March around the city. Have the armed guard march before the Chest of God.” And it happened. Joshua spoke, the people moved: Seven priests with their seven ram’s horn trumpets set out before God. They blew the trumpets, leading God’s Chest of the Covenant. The armed guard marched ahead of the trumpet-blowing priests; the rear guard was marching after the Chest, marching and blowing their trumpets. Joshua had given orders to the people, “Don’t shout. In fact, don’t even speak—not so much as a whisper until you hear me say, ‘Shout!’—then shout away!”
That was the plan? March around the city walls, in complete silence for 7 days, then on the 7th day, do it 7 times? Seems comical in a lot of ways. Only God could design a strategic plan like this.
The number 7 means - perfection, or completion. Of course God would require 7 priest, 7 trumpets, for 7 laps and 7 days. His plan is always perfect, even if it seems crazy.
How many of those marching were thinking, "I can't believe we are doing this. This is so crazy. Do you think this will really work?" But that was it. God's plan for victory. Simple. Unconventional. Out of the norm. Perfect.
Joshua had already seen God do so many miracles, walked through other crazy acts of obedience, and trusted everything God told him to do, so this was becoming normal to him. I am sure Joshua did have some hesitating thoughts about what God told him to do, but his desire to please God was way greater then his desire to avoid defeat or suffering. Remember what God told Joshua at the beginning of his journey? "Be strong and courageous." It doesn't matter what the crazy thing God asks you to do looks like - it could be something like "Hey - call that person - buy this person a cup of coffee - go to this place - adopt this child - move to the most dangerous place in the world - give this money to them - stop and pray for them - move to Midtown." How do you know it is from God? Well, Jesus said "actions speak louder than words. You don’t believe because you’re not my sheep. My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me."
People talk about being "radical" or having "radical obedience", but really, obedience shouldn't be radical, it should be normal. Saying YES to each thing God asks of you, that is what we were made for.
"The priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the blast of the trumpets, they gave a thunderclap shout. The wall fell at once. The people rushed straight into the city and took it."
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