Some days you’re the Israelites marching, and some days you’re the wall. Sometimes God has given me specific instructions and an outline of what needs to happen and how to get there (that would be an Israelites-marching situation.) More often, though, I’ve felt like the wall…feeling the pressure of God’s gentle hand as He’s asking me to yield, to let go, to crumble and trust that He’s accomplishing something good in what looks and feels like rubble and destruction to me. Both circumstances require faith.
The wall scenario reminds me of the Wesley Prayer, specifically the line that always makes me cringe:
“Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee…
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.”
I’d much rather be employed than laid aside, truth be told. But perhaps (surely) a stone brought low by the hand of Jesus is better than whatever castle I think I’m building on my own. “Unless the Lord builds the house (or makes the walls fall?) the workers labor in vain.” (Psa. 127)
Beautiful, Bethany. And you know that prayer is very special to me. I love this line: "a stone brought low by the hand of Jesus is better than whatever castle I think I’m building on my own." That's write it on an index card and never throw it away good. :)
I love this! My mind went to the stones crying out as well! And thinking about the heavens declaring the glory of God!
It reminds me of C.S. Lewis's writing, both Narnia and his Space Trilogy... the talking animals or creatures isn't strange, they just know how to speak praise. It is an imaginative way to approach how, of course, everything praises their creator. The orderliness of our creation is that way because everything else around us is doing what they're created to do.
This is going to seem nerdy, but this isn't anthropomorphizing things, but instead allowing every created thing have the agency to worship the creator.
Not at all! I had never considered it before reading it today, but I love the idea. And now I'm thinking about the flowers of the field and the sparrows. It really puts the discourse with Job in a different light now, too.
I agree with you about the walls. Sometimes we can get lost in thinking we have power, as if faith, if we have enough of it, is like a superpower. Joshua had faith in God doing what God said He would do, if Joshua did what he was supposed to do. When Joshua met the “man” with a drawn sword and asked whose side he was on, the man said “neither” but he was commander of the Lord’s army (therefore Jesus). It was Joshua’s obedience that God honored. It would be good for us to remember that today when we claim “God is on our side!” Since God created everything, I see no problem with the wall obeying when told to get out of the way. He had just told the Jordan river to get out of the way so the Israelites could cross, not to mention the Red Sea 40 years earlier and the rock to make water on the way. But it was Moses’ and Joshua’s faith in God, not faith in their power or abilities. I need to remember that often when I start thinking “I got this” a little too much. Thanks for these lessons, they are very thought provoking. That’s the best kind of!
I liked this thinking challenge today. I interpret Hebrews 11:30 inverted, like this. After being marched around by the Israelis for seven days, by faith, the walls of Jericho fell down. JL makes a good point about creation at the ready, serving Yahweh through worship and leading worship; reflections of His glory and majesty; and ability to heal and restore. I feel the embrace of Yahweh when the warmth of the sun all around me. There is a healing power of the water to my soul when I am kayaking.
I think it is challenging for my mind to think God uses nature (stones, in JL example) to accomplish His goals all the while our faith is being challenged to know (growth in faith) that He has control and will take care, even in what appears to be a win for some and a disasters for others.
At this point I surrender to Abba Father and say, you are too big to comprehend. I will chose to believe you are good, loving, all knowing and always working on my behalf. I will stand in faith.
For me, this emphasizes that God's requirements are not difficult, but they are specific. Walk for seven days , seven priests, seven horns, one long blast = victory. What God requires of us daily is not difficult either, but it is specific. God chooses His own means to accomplish His divine will.
Where does God’s kingdom need to come? What walls need to fall by faith? This may be the most poignant invitation to faith so far. Quite literally, I need the wall of defensiveness to fall. I have had many conversation with my wife or my son about this. I have taken the issue into counseling. I have on occasion wept. But here's my confession: I have not faced this wall "by faith." It's time. So, I'm marching. Ram's horn blaring. Shouting. Praying: "Your kingdom come, your will be done..."
I pictured the scene from Lord of the Rings when all the trees wake up and start walking out of the forest to fight the evil villains. Was just thinking Tolkien must have had a similar understanding about all of creation crying out.
In my opinion… It is about the walls’ faith and I don’t think you’re crazy.
I do believe that all of creation worships the King. I think in some supernatural level, mostly on plains we can’t comprehend all of creation IS actively groaning and equally & oppositely worshiping our Father.
I found it interesting that God said “I have handed Jericho..over to you.” not “I will hand Jericho over if you do these things.” Hopefully I’m not misinterpreting or misplacing emphasis but it made me think of His offer of salvation. He’s already done the work, He’s already beaten death. Sometimes I think Christians (me included) struggle to live from that place of confidence, that the victory has been won! (I know there’s still more victory to occur in the future too.)
I have no trouble believing God is in nature and all things around us. God certainly speaks to me through the wind, a dandelion fluff blowing in the breeze, the ever cyclical waves on the beach - He is everywhere.
I suppose God would give the stone the ability to feel. But I've been in moments where it felt like God was asking me to do something I could not do, and I've waited and waited for the ability. I've seen friends wait decades. But then, I've seen the day the ability arrived with power. Amazing.
Some days you’re the Israelites marching, and some days you’re the wall. Sometimes God has given me specific instructions and an outline of what needs to happen and how to get there (that would be an Israelites-marching situation.) More often, though, I’ve felt like the wall…feeling the pressure of God’s gentle hand as He’s asking me to yield, to let go, to crumble and trust that He’s accomplishing something good in what looks and feels like rubble and destruction to me. Both circumstances require faith.
The wall scenario reminds me of the Wesley Prayer, specifically the line that always makes me cringe:
“Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee…
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.”
I’d much rather be employed than laid aside, truth be told. But perhaps (surely) a stone brought low by the hand of Jesus is better than whatever castle I think I’m building on my own. “Unless the Lord builds the house (or makes the walls fall?) the workers labor in vain.” (Psa. 127)
Beautiful, Bethany. And you know that prayer is very special to me. I love this line: "a stone brought low by the hand of Jesus is better than whatever castle I think I’m building on my own." That's write it on an index card and never throw it away good. :)
I love this! My mind went to the stones crying out as well! And thinking about the heavens declaring the glory of God!
It reminds me of C.S. Lewis's writing, both Narnia and his Space Trilogy... the talking animals or creatures isn't strange, they just know how to speak praise. It is an imaginative way to approach how, of course, everything praises their creator. The orderliness of our creation is that way because everything else around us is doing what they're created to do.
This is going to seem nerdy, but this isn't anthropomorphizing things, but instead allowing every created thing have the agency to worship the creator.
Now I don't feel so crazy! ;)
Not at all! I had never considered it before reading it today, but I love the idea. And now I'm thinking about the flowers of the field and the sparrows. It really puts the discourse with Job in a different light now, too.
I agree with you about the walls. Sometimes we can get lost in thinking we have power, as if faith, if we have enough of it, is like a superpower. Joshua had faith in God doing what God said He would do, if Joshua did what he was supposed to do. When Joshua met the “man” with a drawn sword and asked whose side he was on, the man said “neither” but he was commander of the Lord’s army (therefore Jesus). It was Joshua’s obedience that God honored. It would be good for us to remember that today when we claim “God is on our side!” Since God created everything, I see no problem with the wall obeying when told to get out of the way. He had just told the Jordan river to get out of the way so the Israelites could cross, not to mention the Red Sea 40 years earlier and the rock to make water on the way. But it was Moses’ and Joshua’s faith in God, not faith in their power or abilities. I need to remember that often when I start thinking “I got this” a little too much. Thanks for these lessons, they are very thought provoking. That’s the best kind of!
That's such a good clarification--faith is in God's power, not in our power.
I liked this thinking challenge today. I interpret Hebrews 11:30 inverted, like this. After being marched around by the Israelis for seven days, by faith, the walls of Jericho fell down. JL makes a good point about creation at the ready, serving Yahweh through worship and leading worship; reflections of His glory and majesty; and ability to heal and restore. I feel the embrace of Yahweh when the warmth of the sun all around me. There is a healing power of the water to my soul when I am kayaking.
I think it is challenging for my mind to think God uses nature (stones, in JL example) to accomplish His goals all the while our faith is being challenged to know (growth in faith) that He has control and will take care, even in what appears to be a win for some and a disasters for others.
At this point I surrender to Abba Father and say, you are too big to comprehend. I will chose to believe you are good, loving, all knowing and always working on my behalf. I will stand in faith.
For me, this emphasizes that God's requirements are not difficult, but they are specific. Walk for seven days , seven priests, seven horns, one long blast = victory. What God requires of us daily is not difficult either, but it is specific. God chooses His own means to accomplish His divine will.
Where does God’s kingdom need to come? What walls need to fall by faith? This may be the most poignant invitation to faith so far. Quite literally, I need the wall of defensiveness to fall. I have had many conversation with my wife or my son about this. I have taken the issue into counseling. I have on occasion wept. But here's my confession: I have not faced this wall "by faith." It's time. So, I'm marching. Ram's horn blaring. Shouting. Praying: "Your kingdom come, your will be done..."
I had a physical reaction to reading this--Yahweh, fill Arthur with faith. And then show him that faith in You is always, always founded.
I pictured the scene from Lord of the Rings when all the trees wake up and start walking out of the forest to fight the evil villains. Was just thinking Tolkien must have had a similar understanding about all of creation crying out.
In my opinion… It is about the walls’ faith and I don’t think you’re crazy.
I will quote you to Jesus should He raise concerns in the future. ;)
I do believe that all of creation worships the King. I think in some supernatural level, mostly on plains we can’t comprehend all of creation IS actively groaning and equally & oppositely worshiping our Father.
How marvelous that must be to hear 🤍
I found it interesting that God said “I have handed Jericho..over to you.” not “I will hand Jericho over if you do these things.” Hopefully I’m not misinterpreting or misplacing emphasis but it made me think of His offer of salvation. He’s already done the work, He’s already beaten death. Sometimes I think Christians (me included) struggle to live from that place of confidence, that the victory has been won! (I know there’s still more victory to occur in the future too.)
I have no trouble believing God is in nature and all things around us. God certainly speaks to me through the wind, a dandelion fluff blowing in the breeze, the ever cyclical waves on the beach - He is everywhere.
The walls waiting to collapse at his word…. That’s just beauty and a drop in the bucket of His power!!
What would a stone do if God told it to feel?
I suppose God would give the stone the ability to feel. But I've been in moments where it felt like God was asking me to do something I could not do, and I've waited and waited for the ability. I've seen friends wait decades. But then, I've seen the day the ability arrived with power. Amazing.