WHAT A RACKET!
Opening Prayer
God, I need You every moment today. Be near me.
Read Joshua 6:12–19
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a] to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”
Footnotes
a. Joshua 6:17 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 18 and 21.
Reflect
Think of a time when God asked you to do something that seemed unexpected. How did you feel about that? What helped?The crux of the battle comes on the seventh day (16, 17). Think of a large sporting event to get an idea of how 40,000 people shouting and horns blowing would have sounded. It must have been an intimidating noise. To the last day Joshua remained clear that it was the Lord fighting for them (16).
The threat of destruction portrayed in verses 17 and 18 may cause us discomfort. The saving of Rahab and her family (17) provides a clue for handling that. Of all the people in Jericho she was the only one open to the Lord and His people. Everyone else in Jericho knew about the miracles God did to bring His people into the Promised Land. They could have followed Rahab’s example and turned to the Lord. It seems, then, as if this is a picture of God’s judgment: those who turn to Him will be saved. Those who choose to close themselves up against Him will not.
In the midst of the battle God’s people were called to holiness, purity and dedication to God. Look at verses 18 and 19 to see how they were to achieve that.
Apply
Ask God today to give you an opportunity to do something ‘unexpected’ for Him. When we ask, God will give us opportunities to shine His light to those around us.
Closing prayer
God, I pray that You would begin to strengthen me even now for the times when You ask me to do something that seems unexpected.
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