Are you facing a Jericho?

Recently we studied the story of Rahab, which centered around the siege and fall of her hometown, Jericho. With a massive series of walls, Jericho must have seemed insurmountable to the Israelites. Huge, solid, inpenetrable.

But the walls fell.

There's an important passage that we didn't focus on, that perhaps we should have. Here it is:

                   Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?" The captain of the LORD'S host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15)

Think about this for a moment. Who was Joshua? In today's language, he'd be the equivalent of a five-star general. Head honcho. Top dog.  He was the leader of huge numbers of mighty men and soldiers, and there were a couple of million people who followed him.

It doesn't say he was alone. There may have been people around. Kinda awkward, no? Just suddenly falling down and worshiping? Something tells me that it was not embarrassing for Joshua. He didn't give it a second thought.  It was as natural to him as breathing.

And it was the key to his success. His relationship with the great I AM was the highest priority in his life, and he bowed down. He fell on his face in worship.

We know the rest of the story. They followed the instructions of the Lord and the walls fell, and they city was taken.

Are you facing a Jericho in your life? Is there something that is before you, that seems insurmountable? Do you look at your life and all you can see is that obstacle? I know. I've been there.

Instead of wringing our hands in worry, or sitting and fretting, or even trying to plan our own ways to handle the problem . . . we should worship. Seems counter-intuitive to us; as humans we want to see a problem and then solve it. But many times we need to look at the problem both as a reminder of our own weakness and of the strength of our mighty Father. And He delights in His children's coming to Him, and leaving their problems with Him:

              Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified 
          because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; 
          he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deut. 31:6)

Worship Him as the strong, devoted Friend that He is. Praise Him for His faithfulness, then leave your problem with Him. He will be faithful. He has promised.