In preparation for our talk tonight, this morning I read chapter 6, a passage that I have heard many times since I was a kid; however, unlike all of the previous times, so much more hit me this morning.
For those who aren't familiar (and a quick recap for those who are), Joshua is called by God to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into Jericho. Chapter 6 recounts the Lord's instructions to Joshua in order for the wall of Jericho to fall. Joshua 6:2-5 says:
"See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March along the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 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. 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." (NIV)As a kid, I had seen this depicted through felt characters and the Veggie Tales movie, but I had never strongly considered that it was a real situation with real people, not anthropomorphic peas. This morning, I was struck by the 100% obedience and devotion to God. There was zero hesitation by Joshua or his army to follow God's instructions, regardless of how crazy or silly they seemed. Rather than second-guessing and thinking about other ways in which the wall could fall, the Israelites obeyed each demand without question.
And now for the implication (and application). God told the Israelites to do something so crazy which would not have had any effect were it not for Him. Without His power, there is no way that marching around a wall for 7 days would do anything except provide a different variety of exercise. Without wholehearted faith, nothing would happen. Taking a different viewpoint, imagine how the people of Jericho felt seeing all of the Israelites marching around. They would have called them crazy, foolish, laughed at them, said it was for nothing.
How many times does God push us to do something and we say no because we are afraid of the judgment of others or because we simply just do not want to do it? Something tells me the Israelites weren't thrilled about marching around the wall like that.
What if we could respond to God with such abandonment of our desires that we were willing to walk around a wall for 7 days? What if we did something that could not be achieved if God were not by our side? What if we stopped laughing at those who act outrageously for the Lord, those who wear 'I love Jesus' shirts and preach on street corners?
When is the last time you were CRAZY for God?
As I write this I am listening to Gungor's song 'Beautiful Things' and thinking of how truly beautiful this world is because of the Lord, and how much more beautiful if would be if we were all crazy for Him. How beautiful is it that we get to choose to love Him more and more each day and surrender a little bit more of ourselves to Him daily.
There are 7 more months until I will return to Honduras. Right now, it seems like so far away, but I know it will be quick. Until then, I am so excited to go crazy for God and serve him in the United States. I know that, when I go back, I will be so much more prepared to do His will and do the ultimate crazy thing for him- packing up and moving away to share His Word.
Here's to being crazy for God and 7 more months of my season of preparation.
Remember, if you would like to partner with me, the easiest way is to send a donation into World Outreach Ministries. On the right-hand margin there are two ways that you can support me. Also, as always, be praying for my mission and for my soon-to-be life in Honduras!
