And at the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.

Joshua 6:16

It’s a rather familiar story, the Israelites were beginning the process of taking over the Promised Land. They weren’t trained for battle but God devised a plan that required three things of them – walk around the city, keep your mouth shut and at the appointed time let out a shout! The appointed time for the shout was before the walls came down, not after!

They were used to walking having spent years in the wilderness. I think the reason they were told to keep their mouths shut is because they had become so good at grumbling and complaining. I can’t judge them, I have spent time in the wilderness, wandering and waiting and wondering and oh yes, complaining and grumbling.

Waiting for breakthrough is hard. Not knowing when the prayers offered in faith will be answered is hard. But a takeaway from this story about Jericho is that while waiting we should keep walking in obedience and faith, be very careful about the words that come out of our mouth and be willing to give a shout of victory before we see the answers!!!

Our God sees the end from the beginning, He knows our needs, our heart’s desires and even if the answer doesn’t come on our time frame, it doesn’t mean the answer isn’t coming. He is good and loves us with an everlasting love.

He is worthy of our praise, even praise before the victory! Maybe even especially praise that comes before the victory!

Heavenly Father, forgive me please for the countless times I have grumbled and complained my way through the wilderness. Help me to learn from this story to watch my words and to keep walking in obedience and faith trusting Your timeframe for the answer to my prayers. Help me also to remember to praise You before the victory! Please tear down any walls that are blocking that victory, I ask in Jesus’ name, amen.