2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March round the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Make seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march round the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, make the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.’
Joshua 6: 2-5
To understand God is to understand that we are to trust him. I don’t know if you have ever been in the military. This Friday (8th May) is VE Day. I’m guessing when the WW2 generals where planning the invasion of Europe on D-Day, or when they planned the campaign in North Africa or the Italy landings that they didn’t entertain the idea of simply walking around the Nazi positions with torches.
I wonder how much courage it took for Joshua to follow God’s instructions. Although in fairness he’d already witnessed the Lord’s mighty hand as he served alongside Moses for so many years. Immediately prior to the story about the fall of Jericho Joshua came face to face with the commander of the Lord’s armies. A heavenly warrior, ready for battle. (Read here)
Joshua’s confidence in God was born out of his experience of God. He learned to trust when he saw the power of God as demonstrated through the plagues Moses brought upon Egypt. He crossed the Red Sea in a miraculous way, he learnt about the faithfulness of God when in the wilderness he ate of the Manna God provided each morning.
Trust is like a Lego tower. One brick is built upon another. On experience on top of another. Gradually the Lego tower grows taller and taller and so our trust grows stronger and stronger. Do we have trouble trusting God in the big things of life? Have we committed to trust God in the small things? Have we begun the process of building the Lego tower?
To understand God is to understand he is trustworthy and faithful. To build our trust in God is to look for his hand on our lives and to acknowledge that hand in thanks. The more we thank God for what he has already done for us, the more we will be able to trust him for the next thing that comes our way.
Why not use the hymn below to help you reflect on God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness in your life.
Prayer Father, thank you for all that you have done in my life. Thank you for Jesus, the cross, forgiveness and new life. Thank you for those times when you have guided my life and my steps. Thank you for the protection you have afforded from sin, illness and harm. Thank you for the way in which you have brought me through or are bringing me through difficult circumstances. In Jesus name, amen.
Other resources from Moneydig Presbyterian Church
- Sermons
- Understanding God reflections
- Sunday school children celebrating
- Campaigners Online Sunday School