The Promise. Facing unimaginable Odds Series, part 4

People often see New York state police vehicles driving in the streets of Southern Ontario, Canada. One of the main reasons for this is that the Niagara region of southern Ontario hosts one of the finest dog training facilities in Canada, and the New York police dogs are brought over the international border to be trained.

One day, not too far from one of the training grounds, a burglary took place. A call was put out for the local police, but there were no Canadian police units close enough to the scene of the crime to make it on time. I am certain one of these officers was praying for a solution!

On the training fields were two of the finest police officers from New York State. They heard the call, and they were in close enough proximity to be able to apprehend the thief. Promising success to Canadian police authorities, they obtained the proper authorization, and they proceeded to make the arrest: "Hands up! Don't move!"

I can only imagine how confused the criminal must have been. I can just see how he might have done a double take, maybe even done a mental check to try and remember how and when he could have crossed over into the United States without knowing it. I can almost hear him: "What? No! I'm not in New York! Or am I?" And I'm sure he couldn't help but wonder: "Will I be prosecuted according to Canadian or U.S. law?"

But the important thing is this: Those New York Police officers kept their promise to their Canadian counterparts. They apprehended the Canadian criminal!

Unfortunately not everyone in our day and age keeps his promises. But just like those New York police officers, God always does!

Take for example God's promise to Joshua: "I have delivered Jericho into your hands." (Josh 6:2 NIV)

Only one little problem: Jericho was a fortified city, a bit like Fort Knox, if you know what I mean! It was tightly closed off, and no one, not even an ant, could come in or go out! Its walls were built to last, and from a human stand-point, they were completely impenetrable. It was definitely an impossible task!

What methods did God propose for such a victory?

"March around 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." (Josh 6:3-4a NIV)

And march they did, every day for six days, with seven trumpets of rams' horns. I can only imagine how puzzled those Jericho inhabitants were at first. What were those Israelites up to? Day three must have seen the people of Jericho employing mocking tactics: "Are you going to walk us to death? Or is your plan to simply render us deaf with your trumpets?"

The Israelites were undeterred. They refused to listen to such words of discouragement.

On the seventh day it was ghostly still in Jericho. Israel was acting differently! What were they up to?

That day they would "march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse (Josh 6:4b-5 NIV)

And fall it did. To the complete horror of the inhabitants of Jericho! The impenetrable Jericho was conquered by walking, trumpets and shouts! Quite a unique strategy! One that no other army has ever tried! I wonder why?

But it worked on Jericho.

Why?

Because God was with Israel!

Sadly, most of us walk around nowadays much more quietly, silenced and defeated by the problems we bear. We leave our shouts and our trumpets at home, somewhere in our dusty attic, and we can only wonder why our "walls" never collapse.

I have news for you: There is a God out there who will lead you to victory! He promised it in 1 Cor 15:57 : "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Our victory is guaranteed! God always keep His promises!

The problem is we would rather not be scorned or ridiculed by those around us. We would rather be silent witnesses. But that's not how God provides victory!

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord. . ." (2 Tim 1:7-8 NIV)

Do you know what happens when we are bold in our faith in God?

Walls start crumbling down!

Do you know what happens when we rely on God's power instead of our own?

Walls start crumbling down!

Do you realize what happens when we don't allow ourselves to become discouraged?

Walls start crumbling down!

So take up your trumpets! Start walking in faith! Proclaim who our God truly is!

See? It really IS that simple!

Wait! Who broke down my living room wall?

Rob Chaffart

The Promise. Facing unimaginable Odds Series, part 4

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