Walk and Be Silent

"1 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 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 around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” 

6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” Joshua 6:1-6

The Lord gave Joshua specific instructions about taking over the city of Jericho. He told them to march around the wall for seven days. For six days they marched around the city once. But on the seventh day, they were to walk around 7 times, the trumpet was to be blown, and they were to give a loud shout. This would cause the wall to fall down.

In our lives we sometimes have a wall. The wall could signify anything.  It could signify sickness. It could signify unhealthy relationships, a broken heart, lack of finances. Whatever it is, this wall stands between us and our victory. Sometimes we walk around this wall trying to decipher how we are going to get over, under or through it. We walk around this wall in silence because we don’t know what to say or do to make it come down. We pray and ask God for direction.  We expect him to give us a direct answer. However, sometimes he responds just like he did in this chapter. He gives two directions. Walk and Be silent. He tells us to be silent and trust in His plan. He tells us to continue walking understanding that our victory is definitely on the other side because if we don’t walk we will never get there.

Silence can either be a good or a bad thing. Depends on how we look at it. It can be good in the sense of allowing us to focus on God. It enables us to somehow see things a lot more clearer than we would if we were talking and constantly moving. On the other hand, it can be a bad thing because being silent means being left alone with our doubtful thoughts.  It means acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers to our problems.  It means we are not in control. 

In this case, silence was just a precursor to the expected win.  

God already told Joshua that Jericho was theirs for the taking, however he was requiring them to walk and be silent. People may have looked at them funny but they had to keep on walking and be silent.  People may have been confused as to the purpose of their march but they had to keep on walking and be silent. People may look at your situation and wonder to themselves, how can she not be angry with God? How can he not be more vocal about what he is going through? But through it all you must continue to walk and be silent. Why?? Because in verse 16, it says that on the seventh day, they walked around seven times, the trumpet let out a resounding blast, and then the people SHOUTED!! When they shouted, the walls immediately came down. Immediately. And they ran in to claim what the Lord had promised them.

You might have a wall that you are trying to figure out how to break it down. However, maybe you are in a moment where God is just requiring you to walk and be silent.  You have to believe that what’s waiting for you on the other side is much better than what you’re currently going through. Your opportunity to shout might not come the next day or the day after but believe that it is coming.  When that opportunity comes, shout with all that’s within you. Cry unto the Lord with a voice of triumph and gratefulness. Thank him in advance for the promise that you are about to receive. When that opportunity comes, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.”