Unlikely Strategies

There is nothing less likely than the military tactic what the Lord told Joshua to do at Jericho. In simple terms, it looked non-sensical. I wonder if Joshua whispered to himself, "Wow, that is unusual, even embarrassing." I only speculate as he didn’t seem to hesitate.

What would you have done? The answer to that will depend on time spent in God’s word and presence, as Joshua did. Knowing God would have given Joshua confidence that what God says is what God wants and what God can do. It would have taken faith to obey as it was a mystifying means of conquest.

The battle plan for Jericho wasn’t a pattern to be followed thereafter in perpetuity. It wasn’t a how-to manual in difficult cases of possession. The only thing resembling a pattern here is that of prayer and encounter, combined with reliance upon the "I’m-going-ahead-of-you" presence of God.

In this sense, nothing has changed for a leader. We are still reliant upon God’s advice, and the leading of the presence of the Holy Spirit. No matter what we do, we are safe to go where He is leading, where His presence illumines the path, no matter how contrary it is to normal expectations or preferences.

We have almost forgotten this because we have reduced faith to a series of principles rather than letting it be the dynamic outcome of relationship and encounter that it really is. Ten steps of faith, twenty principles of a successful marriage, thirty-nine steps to a simple life. Oh, that it was that simple, but automatons don’t breathe, much less love.

We have seen the proliferation of books in recent years describing the how-to of almost every aspect of Christian life and ministry. People are flocking to these how-to or how-I-did-it books and conferences. But what can never be duplicated are the local conditions, and the people involved with their unique and specific backgrounds. To say, "I did this or that because of this or that" is not the whole story and may not even be the real story.

I encourage you to linger in the "tent of presence" as Joshua did. God’s word will become a part of your life, and His leading your joy will follow.