Advent: Join the Triumphনমুনা

The Scripture:

"The priests blew the trumpets. As soon as the army heard the sound, they gave a loud shout. Then the wall fell down. Everyone charged straight in. So they took the city." -Joshua 6:20

The Story:

Have you ever played Rock, Paper, Scissors with someone who cheats? I have. Sometimes I play with people, and instead of saying one of the three options – you know rock, paper, or scissors – they pull out a wild, fourth option. It’s always like Fire or Rocket or Chimpanzee. These people always go, “Well this beats all three.” They bring in a fourth option that beats every single option. Now to be clear, those people are no fun and I never want to play with them. But our verse today shows how God is Greater than all other options.

This is the story of the Walls of Jericho. Jericho was a city in the Land that God promised to His people, called the Promised Land. The issue was, there were people living there who were evil. So, God commands His people to attack the city. But He doesn’t say get out the swords, bows and arrows, or chimpanzees. He says walk around the city 1 time for 6 days, then on the 7th day walk around it 7 times all while worshiping. What? The way God wants to defeat this giant city is by a family walk? Yes, it is, and God does it. The people obey God and they shout for the Lord, and the walls come crumbling down. God’s people win!

This is the beginning of God’s people taking over the Promised Land, and it leads to them having a home. Notice, God’s people did not do anything but walk, praise, and obey God. God is the Greatest Power and the Greatest Miracle Worker. He can make cities fall apart just with a walk. That is who God is. He is the God of Victory, and Jericho proves there is no one like God!

The Triumph:

No one can do what God can do. Another place we see that is the Christmas Story. No one can make so many things happen that lead to a young girl named Mary giving birth to the Savior of the World. Only God can do that. And only God can have that Boy grow up, never sin, die for the sins of the world, and rise three days later. Only God can write that story, and only God can win. We did nothing to make the Christmas Story happen. God gave us this Good News because He loves us, and loves us so much He wants to invite us into the Triumph this Christmas Season.