“You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.”
Joshua 6:3-4 (ESV)
God often works in ways that defy human logic and expectations. Throughout scripture and history, we see Him using methods that seem unconventional, even foolish, to accomplish His purposes. Have you ever found yourself questioning God’s instructions because they didn’t align with your own understanding or the world’s wisdom?
Imagine the scene: After forty years of wandering in the desert, the people of Israel finally stand at the threshold of the Promised Land. Their first major obstacle? The fortified city of Jericho, with its imposing walls that seem impenetrable. In this crucial moment, God delivers a battle plan that, by all human logic, appears absurd. March around the city once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day, blow some trumpets, and shout. No siege engines, no battering rams, no complex military strategies – just marching, trumpets, and a shout.
To be unconventional means to go against what is generally done or believed. When we speak of God being unconventional, we’re acknowledging that His ways often contradict human wisdom and societal norms. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
God’s unconventional methods serve multiple purposes: they showcase His power, challenge our faith, humble our human pride, and ensure that He alone receives the glory. By acting in unexpected ways, God invites us into a deeper trust and a more profound understanding of His sovereignty.
From a human perspective, this plan was laughable. The soldiers of Jericho must have been amused, perhaps even emboldened, as they watched Israel’s strange procession day after day. Yet in this unconventional approach, God was setting the stage for a powerful demonstration of His might and the importance of obedience.
The beauty of God’s unusual methods is that they leave no doubt about the source of victory. When the walls of Jericho came crashing down, it was clear to all that this was God’s doing, not the result of Israel’s military prowess or strategic brilliance. Through their obedience to God’s unconventional instructions, the Israelites participated in a miracle that would be retold for generations to come.
This story challenges us to examine our own obedience. How often do we question God’s instructions because they don’t align with our expectations or understanding? How frequently do we miss out on God’s miraculous interventions because we’re too focused on doing things our way?
“Obedience is the fruit of faith; patience is the early blossom on the tree of faith.” – Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), English poet known for her devotional writings and her faith-inspired poetry.
Unconventional obedience requires a deep trust in God’s character and promises. It means being willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world, knowing that our ultimate audience is God Himself. It demands that we set aside our own understanding and embrace God’s higher ways, even when – especially when – they don’t make sense to us.
In our lives, unconventional obedience might look like:
- Responding to hostility with love and kindness
- Giving generously even when our own resources seem limited
- Stepping out in faith to pursue a calling that seems impractical
- Choosing forgiveness when the world says we have every right to hold a grudge
- Embracing humility and servanthood in a culture that values self-promotion
Remember that our God specializes in the unconventional. He uses unlikely people and unexpected methods to accomplish His purposes. As you go about life, be open to His unconventional calls to obedience. Your act of faith, however small it may seem, could be the first step towards seeing walls fall in your life and witnessing God’s power in action. Trust Him, obey Him, and prepare to be amazed by what He can do through your unconventional obedience.
Godseekers, as we reflect on the fall of Jericho, let’s challenge ourselves to embrace unconventional obedience in our own lives. Where is God calling you to step out in faith, even if His instructions seem illogical? What “walls” in your life need to come down, and how might God be asking you to participate in that process in unexpected ways?
Prayer
Lord God, we stand in awe of Your power and Your ways that are higher than our own. Forgive us for the times we’ve hesitated to obey because Your instructions didn’t align with our expectations. Give us the courage to follow You wholeheartedly, even when Your ways seem unconventional. Help us to trust in Your wisdom and timing, knowing that Your plans for us are perfect. May our lives be a testimony to Your power working through our obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- How have you experienced God working in unconventional ways in your life? Can you recall a time when obeying God’s guidance, despite it seeming unusual, led to unexpected blessings?
- In what area of your life right now might God be calling you to step out in unconventional obedience?
Step of Faith
This week, identify one area in your life where you’ve been resistant to God’s guidance because it seems unconventional or illogical. Commit to taking one small step of obedience in that area, trusting that God’s ways are higher than our own. It might be reaching out to someone you’ve been avoiding, giving to a cause that God has placed on your heart, or pursuing a God-given dream that seems impractical. Whatever it is, step out in faith, and watch for how God moves in response to your obedience.
