Trembling Steps In Faith

We're into week 7 of The Story at New Hope, and this week we learn or really relearn about Joshua and the Israelites as they enter the "Promised Land." So much had happened in their past that it must have been hard to just focus on the future, but somehow they did. And in Joshua Chapter 3 their first steps of obedience were met with a miracle from God.

¹³ And _j when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, _f the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall _k stand in one heap"

They continued to take those steps all the way to Jericho, where God asked them to do the incredible to achieve the impossible. They were to walk around the walled city for 7 days and on the seventh God would give them the city. I can't go forward without pointing out that Jericho is one of the cities most investigated by archaeologists and that the battle we are reading about is supported by what they found.

The task God set before them was impossible. A walled city filled with fighting men that had a years' worth of harvest just brought in, and a perpetual spring supplying all the water the people would need for up to a year's siege. They would be overcome by walking, shouting, and the blowing of horns.

It was one of those times when you have to decide whether to follow God no matter what or not. Looking over their shoulder, we can see they have had lots of examples of God doing the impossible for them. But in this case, the key to the impossible requires their doing the ridiculous. And they did it. In faith.

Obedience unlocks the deeper blessings of God.

That's still true today.