Biblical Leadership, the Example of JoshuaIhe Atụ

Victory by Faith

“Joshua said to the people, ‘Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.’” (Joshua 6:16)

The commander of God's army had given Joshua detailed instructions. The whole people were to walk around the city of Jericho for seven days, then they were to shout, and the city walls would collapse. What a peculiar way to wage war!

Joshua did exactly as he was told, and the people followed him. They walked around the city for seven days, and on the last day they walked round it seven times. After that, at Joshua's command, they shouted. Remember, at that time the city walls were still upright. There was no sign of a divine army. No sign of God's intervention. All they had was His promise. Only after the people shouted did the miracle happen: “The wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city” (Joshua 6:20).

Hebrews 11:30 rightly concludes, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”

Try to imagine yourself in Joshua's shoes. Some forty years earlier, he had also been at the border of Canaan, urging the people to trust God for victory. That had almost cost him his life (see Numbers 14:6-10). Now even more faith was required. What would you have done if you had been in Joshua's position?