Marching in Silence to Conquer

“And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and its valiant warriors. And you shall march around the city, all the man of war circling the city once.”
Joshua 6:2-3


Observation:
The first assignment in the campaign to conquer the Promised Land is to destroy Jericho. This was the strongest city of the land. It had the most trained army, a great leader as king, and a strong fortified wall famous for its proven efficiency in protecting the city. God directs Joshua not to start with a small town in order to build some good morale in the ranks of Israel, but to start with the greatest challenge. Sounds crazy to me, but that’s how God wanted.
The Israelite army has the mind of a conqueror, so they are excited about this mission. But when they heard the strategy for battle they were probably puzzled. Joshua was one of those lucky Old Testament patriarchs who so Jesus. The Lord introduced Himself to him as the Captain of the Hosts of The Lord. His command was not to fight fiercely but march silently. Come on! What kind of great conqueror is coming to play with his adversaries in this way? We are not told how the people of Jericho reacted at the way the Israelite army approached them. I speculate that there was mocking, and insulting. Perhaps the people inside the city walls were not concerned at all at this untrained Israelite army that had no idea how to take over a fortified wall. Marching in silence was something that the enemies couldn’t perceive as a treat. But for Israel, obeying God’s command was everything in order to have His presence among them.


Application:
Sometimes I feel that obeying God is like marching in silence. We obey but we don’t understand what’s going on as we obey. At this point we think that doing God’s work in God’s way is a waste of time. We want to do what others do—charge and conquer. But there is something powerful that occurs in our lives when we choose to obey God’s mysterious ways—genuine transformation and rich blessings. Marching in silence is one of the best ways to trust in God, yet is one of the most difficult things to do. Is in the silence of our marching that God reveals Himself to us and takes away our pride and independence. Is in the quietness of our obedience that God increases His glory in our hearts and transform us into His image. Marching in silence is one of the most effective ways to do warfare in the kingdom of God, yet is one of the least practiced disciplines by God’s soldiers. If we want to conquer the sinful areas of our heart and claim the promises that God has for us we must be willing to march in silence. It doesn’t matter if while we obey we are perceived as incapable, naïve, hopeless, lost and failure. We must simply obey what God says and endure it with patience and faith.
Currently the Lord is asking me to do some silent marching in several areas of my life. I don’t necessarily like it, but I’m in the process of convincing my flesh that what God’s ways are better than my ways. In my flesh I want to take control, but in my spirit, I want to leave all the control to God. My hope is filled today as I see the way God does miracles in those who are willing to march in silence to conquer.


PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please forgive me for my stubbornness and independence while obeying You. Sometimes I obey with doubts but I want to mature and become obedient with faith and trust in You. Please change my heart and make it more like yours. Give me your heart when it comes to do the Father’s will out of relationship, not out of obligation. Give me the strength con refrain myself from my own actions when all You ask from my is to march with silence. Let me become a conqueror that thinks according to Your kingdom, not according to this world. Please destroy my tendency to work hard and accomplish without your direction in my life. I don’t want to conquer without You. Please be with me as I posses my Promised Land. AMEN!