When Pigs Fly Week 5: Tuesday

But the Lord said to Joshua, "I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Joshua 6:2-3

Have you heard the saying, "the best-laid plans… often go awry?” It’s true, isn’t it? We can plan and prepare to the best of our abilities, but we are not in control of our plans. Things as simple as the weather or the common cold can force us to change our plans. Control is an illusion. We may think we have control over our situations, but the truth is that only God is in control. And often, God's plans are different from our own. His plans may not always make sense to us at the time, but He can always be trusted.

 Joshua learned that God's plans often look very different than our own in Joshua 6. The chapter begins with God's promise: "I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors” (verse 2). The city of Jericho, God promised, had been given to Joshua and the Israelites. There was just one obstacle in their way. Jericho was a very fortified city. “The gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in" (verse 2). Anyone assessing the situation would have said that taking over the city of Jericho would be a challenge. I am sure that Joshua's question after this promise from God that Jericho was theirs was, "How?" God must have known this question was on his mind. After making the promise, he explained how Jericho would become the Israelites. I am confident that God's explanation for how Jericho would become theirs was far different than Joshua expected. He told Joshua that he and his men were to march around the city of Jericho for six days. Then, on the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. After the seventh time, the people were to shout as loud as they could, and the walls of Jericho would fall. Of all the ways the Israelites would take over the city of Jericho, I'm sure this was very unexpected. Nevertheless, Joshua and the Israelites trusted God’s plan.  

Joshua and the Israelite's story in Joshua 6 is just one example of many different ways God works. His plans are different from ours. He works in ways that are different from our own. His plans often show us how to trust Him and rely on His power and strength instead of our own. Lean on Him today.

Moving toward action

When was a time in your life when you did not understand God's plan? Write about it. What happened in that situation? How did God grow you and teach you through that situation? How does the reminder of how God worked when you did not understand help you as you think about the current situation you’re facing where you do not understand?

Going Deeper

Joshua 6:1-5