THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET BLAST!

   In the book of Exodus the Lord sent Moses to Egypt to request that Pharaoh “Let His people go”. Each time that Moses made an appeal to Pharaoh his heart hardened and he refused to listen or relent to Moses’ request. But as Pharaoh’s heart grew harder, God was exposing the evil intent and corruption of Pharaoh and his army. The Father was also revealing His mighty signs, wonders, and miracles on behalf of His children!

   Don’t be taken aback by hardened hearts that refuse to listen, for God is exposing a hidden agenda and the evil intent of the enemy. Don’t misinterpret what you see in the natural, because when it appears that the enemy has pinned us in, trapping us between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, the truth is that God has already hemmed us behind and before and has laid His hand upon us. (Ps. 139: 5) It is all about perspective and the Lord is saying, “Look and see from where I sit!”

THE PROMISE OF GOD

   Now Jericho (a fortified city with high walls) was tightly closed because (of the people’s fear) of the sons of Israel; no one went out or came in.

   The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty warriors.

   Now you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do this (once each day) for six days.

   Also, seven priests shall carry seven trumpets (made) of rams’ horns ahead of the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

   When they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall cry out with a great shout (battle cry); and the wall of the city will fall down in its place, and the people shall go up, each man (going) straight ahead (climbing over the rubble).” Joshua 6:1-5 AMP

   There were seven Priests, seven trumpets and they were to march on the seventh day, seven times. In Troy Brewer’s book Numbers That Preach, the number seven means “The Spirit of God”. He writes; “This is the number that marks where God is doing something by His Spirit apart from any other source. It is the number that marks His rest and where He rules over all things created. Seven is perfection of Spirit.” He also writes in the same chapter, “When God Perfectly Purifies Something by His Spirit, You See the Number Seven; When God Perfectly Sanctifies Something, You see the Number Seven; When God Perfectly Forgives by His Spirit, You see the Number Seven; When God Perfectly Protects us by His Spirit, You see the Number Seven; When God Brings us Perfect Justice by His Spirit, You see the Number Seven.” (Numbers that Preach by Troy Brewer)

   I heard a pastor say recently “the greatest move of God comes when we make the first move.” (Pastor Gabe) Joshua is an example of stepping out when it doesn’t really look safe enough to step out. God said to go out against the multitude of armies, and Joshua, seeing that it was a hopeless situation-in and of itself-went out against the armies. Joshua had to obey, way before he knew what the outcome would be. He just had to believe that God was going to do what He said He would do, enough to act on it. God didn’t show the great miracles to Joshua and then ask him to obey. He had to actually engage himself in the process of obedience before he received the miracles that were meant for him.

   Order and strategy is vital to be victorious in any war, and Jesus is all about both. It is so very important to keep our eyes “fixed on Jesus”, and listen to His voice as He commands us in His perfect, strategic time, even though the walls of Jericho did not come down in a conventional way.

THE PROMISE OF GOD FULFILLED

   Then on the seventh day they got up early at daybreak and marched around the city in the same way seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times.

And the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.” Joshua 6:15-16 AMP

   So the people shouted (the battle cry), and the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout and the wall (of Jericho) fell down, so that the sons of Israel went into the city, every man straight ahead (climbing over the rubble), and they overthrew the city. Joshua 6:20 AMP

   What seemed like an impenetrable wall that could not be breeched, with high walls completely closed to anyone coming or going, became dust with just a march, a shout and a blast of the trumpet! Joshua’s promise in Joshua 1:3 says, “every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you.” Not, I will give you, or might give you. It was already a done deal, signed, sealed and delivered—I have given you– it was already theirs, He had been just waiting for them to believe Him enough to go get it.

   It seems as if we are up against a Jericho Wall that looks, in the natural, to be impenetrable, but the Lord of angel armies has gathered His army of believers and is leading them out! The Lord has given us our marching orders and it’s not in the conventional way that man would think to do it. Jesus is using our voice, a battle cry of shouting praises and decrees! He calls us to Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise! For by You I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. Ps. 18:29 TPT

   God is leading us over the walls of oppression, suppression and opposition! And soon, we will exclaim with great joy and gladness as we go forward, restored and renewed, just as the children of Israel proclaimed; “It was like a dream come true when You freed us from our bondage and brought us back to Zion! We laughed and laughed and overflowed with gladness. We were left shouting for joy and singing Your praise. All the nations saw it and joined in, saying, “The Lord has done great miracles for them!” Yes, He did mighty miracles and we are overjoyed! Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory!” Psalm 126:1-4 TPT

   The Lord has not only given us a renewed desire to lift our voices in prayer and supplication, He has also given us a restored heart of Patriotism, uniting His people as One Nation Under God!

   God is calling for the trumpets to blast! Stand and see the salvation of the Lord and watch the walls come crashing down!

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. Exodus 14:13 NIV