What can we learn about patience from the Israelites' silent march in Joshua 6:11? Setting the Scene “So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people returned to the camp and spent the night there.” (Joshua 6:11) Silent Steps of Obedience • No ram’s horn yet, no shout, no clash of swords. • One slow lap, then back to camp—six straight days. • Hundreds of thousands walked, yet “do not let a word come out of your mouths” (v. 10). • Their silence underlined total trust in a timetable they did not set. What Patience Looked Like • Trusting God’s plan when progress seemed invisible. • Submitting to leadership without grumbling (Philippians 2:14). • Staying engaged—marching daily—while waiting for God’s appointed moment. • Believing God’s promise of victory before walls even trembled (Hebrews 11:30). Why God Values Waiting • Waiting refines faith: “Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous.” (Psalm 27:14) • Waiting guards against self-reliance: “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) • Waiting prepares the miracle’s stage so only God receives credit (Joshua 6:2). Lessons We Can Carry Home 1. Patience is active obedience, not passive inertia. Keep circling in faith. 2. God often works in silence before He works in spectacular ways (1 Kings 19:11-12). 3. Delayed results are not denied results—His timing is perfect (Ecclesiastes 3:11). 4. Persistent patience protects us from premature shouting—speaking or acting before God says “Now!” (James 1:19). How to Cultivate This Kind of Patience Today • Daily, deliberate surrender of our timetable in prayerful silence (Psalm 62:5). • Fill waiting periods with worship and obedience, not complaints (Galatians 6:9). • Encourage one another to “strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near” (James 5:8). • Remember past faith-wins: the walls did fall—on day seven. Our current march will likewise bear fruit in due season (Isaiah 40:31). |
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