Listen, Follow, Believe

Read: Joshua 6:1-20

Shout! For the LORD has given you the town! Joshua 6:16

IN WORD

Our desire is to see heaven on earth. That’s the Kingdom hope. We haven’t abandoned this world to the enemy; we fully expect Jesus to come again, and in the meantime to answer our prayers for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. So when we read about God’s strategies for Israel to take possession of the Promised Land, we have to wonder what the implications are for the territory He has promised us. If He has told us to pray His Kingdom into this world and live as Kingdom citizens, and if His nature hasn’t changed over the centuries, how do we realize His victories?

If God had a uniform methodology, the answer would be simple. We would keep repeating the first strategy in the Promised Land. We would march around cities, literally or figuratively, and then shout loudly in faith, waiting for walls to fall. Then we would go in and plunder the enemy, taking back territory that rightfully belongs to God. There are deep lessons in that approach, including the necessity of listening to God, opening our minds to absurd strategies, following Him in faith, and letting Him do the heavy lifting in this endeavor. Those are always good plans.

But God’s strategy is more diverse than the one employed at Jericho. Nowhere else in the Promised Land did He instruct His people to march around a city, blast trumpets, and wait for walls to fall. There were times when they used vast numbers for an obvious attack and others when they approached in stealth. There were times when they waited and times when they pursued. The keys were listening and following and believing. Other than that, Kingdom strategy is wildly diverse.

IN DEED

Remember the basics in taking territory in this world. Invite God in and look to Him to establish His Kingdom. Listen, follow, believe. Boldly go where He says to go, and patiently wait when He says to wait. Expect breakthroughs. He has sent us on a mission of reconciliation and restoration, and He has promised to give great victories.

ADDITIONAL READING: Deuteronomy 31:8

Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next.

ELISABETH ELLIOT