Marching into a Miracle

Marching into a Miracle

Text: Joshua 6:1–5

Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 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. And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.

v20: So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

Marching into a Miracle Introduction:

Nelson Mandela Book’

The Long Walk to Freedom

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison, enduring hardship, isolation, and injustice. Though he was confined, he never lost sight of the vision for a free South Africa. Day after day, year after year, he remained steadfast in his belief that a breakthrough would come. When he was finally released in 1990, it wasn’t just his personal freedom—it was the beginning of a national miracle.

Mandela once said, “I have walked that long road to freedom… I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”

Application:

Like the Israelites marching around Jericho, sometimes God calls us to walk in faith before we see the miracle. The walls don’t always fall immediately, and the journey may seem long, but if we stay faithful, the breakthrough will come. Keep marching—your miracle is on the way!

Have you ever found yourself on the brink of a breakthrough but facing an obstacle that seemed impossible to overcome? Maybe it’s a challenge in your health, finances, relationships, or spiritual life. You know God has promised victory, but all you see in front of you are towering walls blocking your way.

The Israelites found themselves in a similar situation when they stood before the massive walls of Jericho. God had promised them the land, but He didn’t hand it to them without a process. Instead of fighting with swords and spears, God gave them an unusual strategy—march around the city in faith for seven days. It didn’t make sense, but their obedience led them straight into a miracle.

The truth is, sometimes God doesn’t remove obstacles instantly. Instead, He asks us to keep marching—one step at a time, even when it doesn’t seem to be working. The walls won’t always fall on the first day, but if we remain faithful, God will bring the breakthrough.

Are you ready to march into your miracle? Let’s dive into this powerful story and discover how God leads His people into victory!

I. The Preparation for the Miracle:

1. God’s Promise – v2

The Lord said.” The worth of a promise is determined by the one making the promise. When God makes a promise, no promise is more sure of fulfillment.

“See, I have given Jericho into your hand.”

• Past Tense Promise: God says, “I have given”—before the battle even begins! This shows that the victory was already secured in God’s plan.

• Victory Declared in Advance: God speaks in past tense (“I have given”), even though the battle hasn’t begun. This is a key principle of faith—believing before seeing.

The Gates That Were Blocked.

The Gift That Was Bestowed.

As we have seen, the Israelites stood before the towering walls of Jericho, facing what seemed like an impossible situation. The city was tightly shut, the enemy was strong, and from a human perspective, victory appeared out of reach. But God had already declared the outcome..

The victory had already been won! All Joshua and his people had to do was claim the promise and obey the Lord.

Divine Perspective: God calls Joshua to see the victory before it happens. Faith requires seeing through God’s eyes, not human limitations.

• Comprehensive Victory: God promises not just the city, but also the king and soldiers—a total conquest.

• Faith Over Sight: Joshua and Israel had to see the victory in faith before they saw it in reality. This mirrors Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

• God’s Sovereignty in Battle: It wasn’t Israel’s military strength but God’s power that would secure the victory.

• Spiritual Application: When God gives you a promise, it is already done in the spiritual realm. You just need to walk in obedience to see it manifest (Isaiah 46:10 “declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’”

Illustration: The Signed Check – Imagine someone hands you a signed check and tells you it’s yours. It’s already written out, but you must take it to the bank and cash it. Likewise, God had already given Jericho to the Israelites, but they had to act in faith and march toward the promise.

As we face our obstacles, whatever they may be we can do so with confidence, because we have the Lord’s promises as banners to march under: 1. We Have His Promise That Our Weapons Are Powerful Through God. 2. We Have His Promise That Our Battles Have All Been Arranged By The Lord. 3. We Have His Promise That Our Ability Is Limited Only By Our Faith.

4. We Have His Promise Of Power In The Day Of Battle.

5. We Have His Promise Of Ongoing Victory. 6. We Have His Promise That We Will Never Fight Alone. 1. God’s Promise – v2

2. God’s Plan – v3

“You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go around the city once. This you shall do six days.”

• An Unusual Battle Plan: No weapons, no attack—just marching. This required absolute trust in God’s strategy.

• Marching Instead of Fighting: Rather than attacking, Israel was told to march around Jericho. This was an act of obedience and patience.

• Repetition Builds Trust: Six days of marching may have tested Israel’s faith. God often works through process before bringing the promise.

• Faith in Action: The Israelites had to march for six days with no visible progress.

• Spiritual Application: Sometimes, God’s instructions don’t make sense to human logic. But true faith follows God’s word even when results aren’t immediate (2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Illustration: GPS Navigation – When you use GPS, sometimes it directs you on a longer route that doesn’t make sense. But if you follow the instructions, you arrive at your destination. God’s plan for Jericho seemed unconventional, but obedience led to the miracle.

1. God’s Promise – v2

2. God’s Plan – v3

3. God’s People – v4

“Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark.”

The priests led the march, symbolizing that God’s presence (represented by the Ark of the Covenant) was leading the battle.

Spiritual Leadership: The priests led the march, symbolizing that this was a spiritual battle, not just a military one.

• Trumpets of Jubilee: These ram’s horns (shofars) were also used in Israel’s Year of Jubilee, symbolizing freedom, victory, and divine intervention.

• The Power of Seven: Seven represents completion and perfection in Scripture. The seven-day march and seven circuits on the last day emphasized God’s divine order.

Illustration: The Orchestra and the Conductor – An orchestra has different musicians playing different instruments, but they must follow the conductor. The Israelites, like an orchestra, had to follow God’s timing and instructions for victory.

Not only we see,

I. The Preparation for the Miracle:

II. The Process of the Miracle:

1. A Strange Command –v10

“You shall not shout or make any noise… until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!

Why Was This Command Strange? Waiting for the Right Moment:

• The people were to wait for Joshua’s command to shout. This highlights the importance of God’s timing.

• If they had shouted too early, the walls would not have fallen, emphasizing that obedience and patience precede the miracle.

• The Israelites had to exercise self-control by not speaking during the march.

• Words have power (Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” and God prevented them from murmuring or expressing doubt.

• This mirrors times in our lives when God calls us to be still and trust Him (Psalm 46:10 ““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!””

• Faithful Expectation:

• The Israelites were marching in silence knowing the day would come when they would shout in victory.

Illustration: The Seed Underground – A farmer plants a seed and doesn’t see immediate growth. Though it looks like nothing is happening, deep underground, roots are forming. The Israelites’ silence didn’t mean inactivity—God was working behind the scenes.

Not only we see,

1. A Strange Command –v10

2. A Steady Commitment – v12

“And they rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.”

A steady commitment to God’s presence and instructions positions us for victory. Just as the priests faithfully carried the Ark, we must daily walk in obedience, trusting that God’s power will bring the breakthrough!

the priests took up the ark of the Lord.”

• The Ark of the Lord Represents God’s Presence:

• The Ark was not just a religious symbol; it signified God’s presence, power, and covenant with Israel (Exodus 25:22).

• Instead of using military weapons, the Israelites relied on God’s presence to lead them into victory.

• Priests, Not Soldiers, Carried the Ark:

• The battle plan emphasized spiritual preparation over military strength.

• Victory comes from God’s power, not human effort (Zechariah 4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” 2Corinthians 10:4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

• Daily Obedience Was Required:

• The priests had to carry the Ark every day for six days before the final victory came.

• This illustrates consistent faithfulness and trust in God’s process.

• Spiritual Application: We must daily walk in obedience, carrying God’s presence into every situation (Luke 9:23).

Not only we see,

1. A Strange Command –v10

2. A Steady Commitment – v12

3. A Silent Confidence – v14

And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.”

Confidence in God’s Timing

“So they did for six days.”

• Consistency in Obedience Brings Victory:

• They didn’t march one or two days and quit—they stayed the course until God moved.

• Many people give up too soon, but God’s promises are fulfilled in His perfect timing (Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Illustration: Walking by Faith, Not by Sight – A blindfolded person led by someone they trust must rely on their leader’s guidance rather than what they see. The Israelites had to trust God’s instruction without immediate results.

Not only we see,

I. The Preparation for the Miracle:

II. The Process of the Miracle:

III. The Power of the Miracle:

1. A Shout of Victory – v16

“Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!”

1. The Call to Shout – A Response of Faith

“Shout…”

• The Israelites had been silent for six days (Joshua 6:10), but now, at God’s command, they were told to shout in faith before the walls even fell.

• Spiritual Application: Sometimes, God calls us to declare victory before we see it (Romans 4:17

• Faith Before Fulfillment:

• Their shout was not based on what they saw, but on what God had promised.

• This mirrors stories like:

• Jehoshaphat’s army praised before the battle (2 Chronicles 20:22 “And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.”

• Paul and Silas worshipped before their breakthrough (Acts 16:25–26 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.”

• Application: Sometimes, our victory begins with a shout of faith, even when the walls are still standing.

2. The Certainty of Victory – God’s Promise Fulfilled

“For the Lord has given you the city!”

• Victory Was Already Secured:

• Joshua didn’t say, “God will give you the city” but “God has given you the city!”

• Before the walls crumbled, God declared the outcome, teaching us that God’s promises are as good as done (Numbers 23:19 “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”

The Israelites’ shout was not just noise—it was faith in action!

2. A Sudden Collapse –v20

“The people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat.”

Divine Timing:

• The shout was not random—it was a response to God’s command at the appointed time.

• Victory came not through human effort but through divine instruction.

• Spiritual Application: Breakthrough happens when we align our actions with God’s timing.

• Faith in Action:

• The people shouted before they saw results.

The Walls Fell Completely Flat:

• The phrase “fell down flat” suggests there was no rubble blocking their entry—God removed every obstacle!

• Spiritual Application: When God brings a breakthrough, He makes a clear way forward (Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

3. A Supernatural Conquest – Joshua 6:20

“Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”

Illustration: The Door That Opens Automatically – Some doors only open when you step forward. If you stand still, they won’t move. The Israelites had to step forward in faith after the walls fell—God provided the miracle, but they had to walk into it.