February 23
Scripture of the day: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days." Hebrews 11:30
Thought of the day: Jericho was the first battle for the Israelites after they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. As a young boy I imagined that they were a small band of under-equipped soldiers marching around the huge city of Jericho. I imagined the people of Jericho mocking them from the top of the walls ... maybe throwing things down at them as they marched around the city. My imagined picture was incorrect. Jericho was small ... about 6 acres in size (2.5 hectares or 24,000 square meters). And the large Israelite army of 40,000 soldiers was equipped, Joshua 4:12-13, 6:3. They were a very large army against a very small city.
Challenge of the day: Relying only on their own strength, the army could have easily conquered Jericho. However, God gave them a battle plan that required all faith and no personal strength. Too often we are tempted to serve God in our own strength rather than by faith. Hebrews 11 is the all-star list of faith. It is not the all-star list of personal strength. Don't fight your battles without faith. Trust in the Lord. "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God." Psalms 20:7. "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord." Proverbs 21:31. Are you trusting God to take down the walls of your Jericho? Or are you battling to take them down alone?
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