By Sharon Griffin, WMB General Coordinator
I have a shofar displayed in my home. The shofar is a ram’s horn, and in biblical times it was blown constantly in war. The sound of the shofar is a powerful, divine sound that is blown for a purpose. There was a time when it was blown as God’s people were about to conquer a certain city. The name of that city was Jericho, and the leader of God’s people (army) was Joshua.
“Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him… And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city” (Joshua 6:1-5, 15, 16).
The Canaanites had built the great walled city of Jericho as a gateway to their land. It could not simply be bypassed by an invading enemy, and it was too large and too strong to ignore. It now stood between Israel and the Promised Land that God had given them for an inheritance. It would be the first battle in their conquest of the land of Canaan but, unless they found a way to bring down the city’s mighty walls, which they lacked the physical means to do, the city would not be taken.
But, as we have read, God already revealed to Joshua that Jericho was given into his hands, however, there were further instructions to follow for the victory to be complete. The strategy, though laid out by God Himself, no doubt appeared foolish to some (marching around the city). And though it may have seemed foolish, Joshua followed God’s instructions.
God told them the walls would fall (it was only a matter of time) but His chosen people had to do their part. They were to march, blow the shofar, and shout. God had told Joshua, “I have given into thine hand Jericho.” This was expressed in a past tense because God had given Israel the city even before they marched around its walls. “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days” (Heb. 11:30).
Faith is not just belief, but it is accompanied by works. It took faith to march around Jericho for seven days. It also took action and obedience. Picture thousands of Israelites lining up every morning to march around the city. Inside its walls, one could imagine, there were some who were getting worried and frightened. War was being declared. But nothing happened on the first day, and then nothing on the second day. The people inside Jericho might have started to relax. However, on the seventh trip around on the seventh day, the horns started to blow with one long blast, God’s people then let out a shout, and the walls came tumbling down.
Faith with works pushes things forward and brings results! The Jericho doubters surely believed now. The walls had fallen to the ground! It was impossible, but it had happened! When God wants to do something, He starts with some marching orders and He starts with the impossible! It makes believers out of doubters, and it brings victory to God’s people!