Shout: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Shout

Armed warriors

clutching courage

real or imagined

prepared to die

in battle

storming Jericho’s walls.

Commanded instead to

walk seven days

then SHOUT.

When did words alone

bring victory? Hearts

murmured—yet to

Yahweh stayed obedient,

confusion turned to awe.

Psalm 104: 31, “Let the glory of the Lord endure forever; Let the Lord be glad in His works.”

Reflection: Inexplicable: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

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Reflection Questions

1.     What is your approach to insurmountable odds? Give up? Push harder? Come at it sideways?

2.     How often do you attack a problem your way first and then ask for God’s help or do you go to Him first?

3.     How difficult or easy is it for you to cease striving when the cost is high?

Share: Has the Lord ever asked you to do something inexplicable? How did you respond?

Inexplicable: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

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Hebrews 11: 30, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.”

Inexplicable

Have you ever wondered what kind of conversations went on in the ranks over those seven days? Did hope or doubt or confusion grow with each passing night?

Confidence or cowardice. Ribald jokes or nervous twitters.

Did the warriors groan as their adrenaline rush decreased with inactivity while the families eased a sigh of relief at another day of no blood shed—yet.

Yet whatever the individual or group concerns over lack of seeming practical campaign strategy, they did not whine or moan as their ancestor had at the Red Sea. In spite of confusion at these new tactical orders, they obeyed. And walked daily in faith—not seeing—not even being able to imagine what exactly it was they were doing.

We expect instant answers to immediate problems today. With all the information available at our fingertips we assume quick replies. And if they don’t come we then assume we are in control, or it’s up to us to find a solution. Or chafe at the thought of waiting—with no concrete or definable plan of attack. And miss out on astonishment.

Lord, please help us not to resist Your ways when they seem inconceivable. Instead enable us to see through Your perspective and Your possibilities. Help us be willing to relinquish our solutions towards conflict with solutions beyond our ability to achieve. And trust Your word alone.

Your thoughts,

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What is your approach to insurmountable odds? Give up? Push harder? Come at it sideways?

2.     How often do you attack a problem your way first and then ask for God’s help or do you go to Him first?

3.     How difficult or easy is it for you to cease striving when the cost is high?

Share: Has the Lord ever asked you to do something inexplicable? How did respond?