Impact - Day 27

Day 27 – “But This Time…”

Joshua 6:15-16, 20  On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times. The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the town!

When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it.

It must have taken patience and restraint for the people to march around Jericho in silence for six straight days. As they trudge around the circle, the city's inhabitants gather on the walls to mock the parade of Hebrews. These moments between God’s calling and victory can be painful and cause so much doubt to grow in our hearts. But somehow, faith, strong and unwavering, has welled up in the procession. They are claiming the promise God made one footstep at a time.

We are invited to practice this same strategy in our circling moments. Consider patiently rehearsing the promises of scripture as a buildup to God’s perfect timing. What a remarkable thing to experience growing faith during what others would describe as a delay in God’s goodness. Save your voice from the murmuring and complaining that robs your future. There will come a day when God calls on you to shout as a part of His rescue.

The seventh day arrives, and expectations build. The first trip around the city hasn’t tipped off that this day will be different from the previous six. On the third or fifth trip around, the city's people begin to see a different look on the faces of the marchers. Then, on the seventh lap, everything changes.

Our passage says, “But this time they went around the town seven times.” (6:15). There is tremendous hope in the simple phrase, “But this time…” Despite the days of wandering and the delayed victory, there comes a time when God’s promises are fulfilled. How many abort the journey one lap short of the falling walls? “But this time…” is a challenge to hold on, claim faith, and place your foot on the next dusty step. He has given you the next square foot of your calling.

One final act of trust occurs before the city falls. God has instructed that on the seventh lap, as the priests blow their horns, the people should shout as loudly as possible. As they do, the walls collapse. This feels like a picture of a mom inviting their 3-year-old to help with the cooking or a dad encouraging a child to help build a bookshelf with their play hammer. God does all the heavy lifting. But repeatedly, throughout scripture, He seeks our involvement in His activity. And usually, it involves our voices. 

God uses your voice. He is up to something powerful today that may be waiting for you or me to go one more time around the block, storing up the energy to make some noise. As we notice the many things in this world that ought to be different, the needed changes and lives gone wrong, we should repeat God’s promises with every footstep and get ready to shout His presence. What a crazy realization. He chooses to link His victory to my voice.

1. Would you say you are a loud or quiet person? What situations bring out the most volume in your voice?
2. What forms of injustice cause you to speak up the most? What would you like to see done?
3. Who are you concerned about today? What promise would you like to claim on their behalf? How might God plan to use your voice to bring victory from this situation?