#battleofjericho

Battle of Jericho: detailed tattoo of tumbling walls

If you’ve grown up in church culture or ever spent a summer in a VBS you may have heard of Joshua, he’s the guy who never had a mother or a father, scripture tells us he was the son of Nun. (That was my poor attempt at inserting an old church joke, lame maybe but go easy it’s been a long night I’m still working on my coffee). Anyway, Joshua was the guy who stepped up into Moses’ position to lead the Israelites once they had reached the promise land and God told Moses He wasn’t allowed to go in (it seems unfair but I’ll save that story for another day).

After Joshua enters Canaan, the promised land, there is a little something preventing them from claiming what God just gave them. That little something was a large impenetrable walled city called Jericho. (To read more on the actual fortitude https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/the-walls-of-jericho/)

Now come with me on a little journey for a little bit of background on these people. After leaving Egypt the Israelites have been wandering around in the desert for 40 yrs. this was no little band of people, this was a nation. In the Numbers 1:45-46 the men fit for battle (not including women, children and elderly) were counted at 603,550. That’s a lot of guys...Let that sink in for a minute. Ok, so they are excited and finally getting out of the desert after wandering for 40 yrs around due to a lack of faith. Now the time had come and they were going to be entering this luscious green fertile land where milk and honey flow and grapes are so large it takes two men to carry them. (Numbers 13) Then all of a sudden...this city called Jericho?? .... but this land is supposed to be ours and there’s people already here?!?!? Uhhh God did you not see this 6 acre ancient Ft Knox? (You know out of that many people there had to be a few wondering what the heck??)

Now Joshua, being the man he was (I highly recommend studying his life) inquired of the Lord concerning this obstacle in their way. The Lord gave him specific instructions. (Joshua ch 6) http://biblehub.com/niv/joshua/6.htm On how they are to handle this situation. They are to march around the walled city behind the ark of the covenant one time for six days then on the seventh day they are to march seven times around, blow trumpets and shout. Now there is an often overlooked miracle within this chapter. It’s found in verse 10. It says “But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!”

Soooooo....did it hit you like it did me? We are not given an actual count of the men that were marching that week around those walls. From several different historians the numbers range from 8000 to 40,000 depending on how the word “eleph” was translated. (Remember scripture tells us that at least 600,000 were fit for war within the Israelites when they entered the desert) but even if we use the smallest number of 8000 it’s still a miracle. So what is the overlooked miracle??? For seven days the men were in total silence! They didn’t speak a word until the time came for the victory shout. To me, keeping a minimum of 8000 people silent for seven days..... is nothing short of a miracle!

I got to thinking about this and why silence was commanded. I thought about the power of words. What would’ve happened if while marching around the walls ol’ Jedidiah would’ve leaned over to Aphek and said “this is about the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of, what is walking around in circles gonna accomplish?” Or maybe Abe punched Eli and said “who does Joshua think he is? He’s no leader! I’m ready to fight!!! If I would’ve done it my way we’d already been inside .......”

There’s a reason, a good reason Joshua told the men he didn’t want any spoken word, because there is so much power in what comes out of our mouths! Joshua had walked with these men for 40 yrs. I’m sure he knew the alphas, the hot heads, the complainers and the negative Nimrod’s. He knew what they were capable of but he also understood that they had to do it God’s way. He understood words and their effect. Had they had conversations back where Joshua couldn’t of heard, do you think the walls would’ve still fell? Would they have been so busy complaining and grumbling that they would’ve missed when the order came to shout? Would they have been more focused on their own conversations than the task at hand? I for one believe what scripture tells me and that was no one spoke a word until the trumpets sounded and the men shouted on the seventh day. To me, God performed another miracle within those men. A silent miracle. I can’t help but wonder if in their minds they were reflecting on what they had seen God do for them in the wilderness with each footstep they took around Jericho. Perhaps they looked down at their feet and saw the same shoes that walked out of Egypt and crossed the dry floorbed of the Red Sea. Perhaps those that were born in the wilderness were reflecting on the day at hand, the day that their fathers and grandfather had told them would come. I don’t know what thoughts would’ve been in those men’s minds but I know they were obedient in their silence. I imagine some of the most heartfelt prayers were said from their hearts those 7 days. They did what God commanded and they won.

Thousands of years later there are many lessons we can take from their story but the one that has stood out to me most the past few weeks is the power of words. If you are in the midst of a battle listen closely to what is coming out of your mouth. If what your hearing is not positive, uplifting and encouraging be silent. Good or bad the tongue has a way of steering our lives (James 3)

Always post the rules

Answer the questions of the person who tagged you and write 11 new ones

Tag 11 people and link them

Let them know they are tagged

1. Favourite ice cream flavour?

probably mint chocolate chip or rocky road.

2. A popular ship you don’t like?

i'm not such a fan of destiel or johnlock. i kinda understand where people are coming from, but i don't think it's necessary that they're gay for each other.

3. Your favourite piece of clothing?

my BIG DOG 'can't fix stupid' sweatshirt. it's so comfy! :)

4. Have you ever been to a concert?

i've been to a few. the first was zoegirl/carman when i was about 11. since then, i've seen hawk nelson (about 4 times), asleep at the wheel (2 times), carman (again), brad paisley/josh turner/sara evans (that was the tour line-up), mercyme, sonicflood, 100 monkeys... that's about it actually.

5. Best movie you’ve seen in 2013?

i'd probably say THOR 2. it was epic.

6. Last person who hugged you?

either my mom or grandma, i'm pretty sure.

7. Dogs or cats?

both, but i usually like dogs a bit more. my cat's awesome though :)

8. How many languages do you speak?

i only speak english fluently. supremely rusty on ASL, and know a pathetically tiny amount of french, german, and spanish.

i learned how to count to 10 in those last three when i was about 3, and i've picked up a few words since, but still...

9. Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?

potter

10. Favourite doctor?

Tennant

11. Summer or winter?

winter! bring on the cold and rainy stuff! :)

My questions:

Favourite food?

probably either the chicken burritos at el tapitio in porterville, or spare ribs - my grandpa usually makes the best ones :)

Would you like to change gender for one day?

nah, i'm good.

Who is your favourite superhero?

iron man

Your dream job?

crap. i really don't know.

The worst move you’ve ever seen?

not sure what you mean...

Sea or mountains?

sea! though the last time i went i got a sunburn - the mark of which is still on my skin months later! :)

Favourite character on “house m.d”? 

probably house.he was such a snarky little pain in the rear, but still.

Have you ever read Neil Gaiman book? 

nope. the closest i came was listening to the radio-play of neverwhere a few months ago... lots of familiar voices in that, it was really good!

The best chocolate you’ve ever eaten?

i'm really not sure.

Favourite Doctor Who companion?

probably donna or rose.

Ask yourself a question and answer it :D

which superpower would you rather have?

probably either teleportation or mind reading :)

here's 11 more questions!

which superpower would YOU rather have?

if you could have a 'pocket' copy of any actor or character, who would it be?

DC or MARVEL?

Joss Whedon or Stephen Moffat?

US or UK?

TOP GEAR or 'TOP MODEL'?

VAMPIRES or WEREWOLVES?

MUSIC or THEATER?

CALL or TEXT?

PLANE or TRAIN?

Rules:

Always post the rules

Answer the questions of the person who tagged you and write 11 new ones

Tag 11 new people and link them to the post

Let them know you tagged them

Questions:

1. Who is you favourite character of all time? 

Sherlock Holmes, I just love how different and intricate he is. How brilliant he is.

2. What was the first fandom you joined? 

Easy man, Harry Potter the gateway fandom lol.

3. Would you rather be attacked by Martin Freeman or Benedict Cumberbatch? Attacked by hugs? Punches? I'm going to go with hugs and then go with Benedict, cause shit mans attractive.

4.Something you enjoy doing?

I like watching movies:)

5.Favourite movie?

I don't think I could ever pick lol.

6.Cheesecake or Strudel?

Cheesecake!

7.Which fictional character do you want to be best friends with?

Herminoe, I think we'd get along fairly well.

8.Something you hate but everyone else seems to love?

I can't really pinpoint anything at the moment... 

9.OTP?

megstiel

10.Favourite Doctor?

Eleven, he just has my sort of sense of humor. I'm going to cry when he leaves :(

11.You come home one day and you find you favourite actor sitting on your bed. What do you do?

You mean, what wouldn't I do ;). Most importantly though, I would like to just hear him talk about something he really cares about.

  My questions:

How tall are you?

What is subject interests you the most?

What country if you had the chance, would you visit?

What's your favorite thing to drink?

What's your favorite fandom? 

Do you have any talent no one is aware about?

What country are you from?

Is there anyone famous, or not that you have the most utter respect for and look up to them?

Let's talk pizza, what is your favorite topping?

Have you ever been to comic con? If you have tell me about your experience.

Rules  1. Write the rules  2. Answer the questions and make 11 new ones  3. Tag 11 people  4. Let them know you tagged them

Questions

1. You are an introvert or an extrovert? Introvert

2. Where do you want to live? idk I can imagine living almost everywhere

3. What is your dream job? hm I have a couple of ideas for novels but I never write them, probably because I'm too scared that no one will care.

4. Who is your favourite villain? Khan (Benedict's), but I also always liked Hannibal

5. What was the last book you read? Dan Brown- The lost symbol

6. If you could eat a dinner with a celebrity who would it be? Benedict, but let's be honest, I'd be too nervous to eat anything

7. Summer or winter? summer

8. Who is your favourite X-Men? Charles

9. The last film you watched in cinema? Star Trek into Darkness

10. In which Hogwarts house do you belong in? Slytherin

11. What languages do you speak? German, English. I also know a little bit of French, Spanish, Italian and even Yiddish. I also understand some Dutch (even better than French and I had French 4 years at school) but I don't speak it.

My Questions:

1. Who would you rather travel with: The Doctor or the Winchesters?

2. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

3. A fanfiction you wish was canon.

4. A song that makes you cry

5. A song that cheers you up

6. your favorite unpopular ship

7. a popular (maybe even canon) ship you can't stand

8. a language you wish you could speak

9. what would your patronus be?

10. last film you've watched