“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” (Hebrews 11:30)
God’s strategy for overcoming life’s obstacles is usually much different from our own. We tend to focus on the problem, quickly formulating plans to go around it, over it, or through it. But God is more concerned with what our current crisis is accomplishing in our character. No one learned this lesson better than Joshua as he stood before the walls of Jericho. God’s instructions were clear—the strategy was faith.
The battle of Jericho required no weapons, ladders, or battering rams. Instead, the people were to march around the city in silence, blow the trumpets, and shout. Then, and only then, would the walls fall. The Lord wanted His people to trust Him alone for the victory. His plan eliminated human glory, required faith before results, and taught Israel to wait patiently on Him.
The Lord often tests our resolve and dependence on Him as we face obstacles and spiritual battles of our own. We’re reminded in 2 Corinthians 10:4 that “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” In other words, the victory is often secured in the spiritual realm before it becomes visible in the physical realm.
God’s strategy for victory accomplishes more than overcoming the difficulty. Quietly waiting on the Lord builds our character. That doesn’t mean doing nothing; it means exercising active faith. It’s waking up each day determined to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and obey regardless of our circumstances. It’s quietly walking around our walls, trusting that the Lord God Almighty will act in His timing and His way—perfectly.
What personal battle is staring you in the face? It’s tempting to pray while moving ahead with a plan we’ve already decided to follow, asking God to bless it along the way. Resist the urge to formulate a strategy of your own making. Instead, follow God’s strategy for victory.
Waiting on the Lord and obeying His plan requires patience and growing in faith—often long before you see results. Don’t be like the wilderness generation who talked themselves out of faith. Like the Jericho generation, learn to walk quietly with the Lord each day, giving Him all the glory for the victory.
