Get Up!

Have you ever forgotten the great things God has done for you? This is what happens to Joshua right after the battle of Jericho. Israel loses a battle with a people called Ai which causes Joshua to become discouraged and lose heart.

Read Joshua 7:4-9

4 So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai 5 chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.

6 Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the Lord until evening. 7 Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! 8 Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? 9 For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?”

What is one thing that stuck out to you in this passage?

Have you ever responded like Joshua does in this passage when failure comes?

Read Joshua 7:13

13 “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.”

What is God’s response to Joshua? What are some places God is telling you to “Get Up!!!”

What is God teaching you right now?

Really?

Read Joshua 6:1-6

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. 2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. 3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. 4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. 5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”

What is one thing that stuck out to you in this passage?

Imagine you are Joshua and you are about to deliver the battle plan God gave you for defeating Jericho. At first hand it seems crazy and bogus. You want me to do what God? Really? Are you sure? Marching around a wall around doesn’t seem like the best way to bring it down. God chose this battle plan not so men would get glory in battle but so people would see the power of God, hearts would change, and people would worship. This battle plan put Joshua and the people of Israel in place where they had to trust God; if He didn’t show up, the people of Israel would fail.

Read Joshua 6:15-17

15 On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times. 16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the town! 17 Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.”

Did God come through on His promise?

What is a situation in your life where you need God to show up or come through?

Pray God would show you His plan and allow you to be open to things that seem ridiculous or impossible.

Meditate on Scripture

Meditating on Scripture can be an incredible way to spend time with God. When the Lord is commissioning Joshua, God instructs Joshua to meditate on Scripture day and night. When we think of meditation, we tend to think of the person sitting cross-legged, fingers making circles, eyes closed saying, “oohhmmmm.” This is not what we are talking about. Meditating on Scripture is about filling our minds with more of God and His truth. We do this by reading Scripture over and over again as well as thinking on the words we have read. You can also meditate on attributes of God such as His holiness or His love. Meditation is a great tool to fill our minds with God and His truth!

Read Joshua 5:13-15

13 When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”

14 “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”

At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”

15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.

What is one thing that stuck out to you in this passage?

Practice meditating on God’s Holiness

Ways to help you do this or express your thoughts:

Journaling

Praying

Listening

Drawing

Singing

Taking a walk

Being still