Sunday school teachers love the Jericho march story. I remember reenacting it in more than one class. And then there's the old spiritual. And the Veggie Tales movie. It's a great story.
It's all very improbable. March around the city one time per day for six days, and then on the seventh day, march around seven times with the priests blowing trumpets. When you're done, listen for the one long blast, and then shout really loud and the city walls will fall down.
Crazy.
Sometimes God asks us to do crazy-sounding things.
He wants us to trust him.
He wants us to see his power and his glory and his ability to do the impossible.
He is holy, and he wants us to worship him.
Check out chapter 5, verses 13-15. The people celebrate Passover, remembering what God has already done, and Joshua goes out for a walk. The Bible doesn't tell us what he is doing, but whatever his purpose, I'm guessing his mind is at work. We're near Jericho . . . what's next?
He looks up and sees a man with a sword and asks the man, "Are you for us or against us?"
Neither, the man says, "I'm the commander of the Lord's army."
Joshua falls on his face in reverence, and asks what message God has for him.
"Only this," says the man, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy."
Holy.
Set apart for God's purposes.
Worship.
Great battles, great battles won by God under improbable circumstances, start with recognizing God's power, his glory, his holiness.
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