The Effort is in the Waiting

Most of us know the story of the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6). The marching round for 7 days, and 7 times on the seventh day. Then a big shout, loads of noise, and the walls come down. The city is destroyed, victory is won, the obstacle of Jericho is removed.

A great military victory.

But where was the real effort put in? In the attack, in rushing in to destroy?

None of these: instead it went in to the quiet waiting (relatively - a few trumpets at the head of the procession) and marching around in circles. First for 6 days, and then on the seventh day (when anticipation must have been at bursting point) another 6 times of just plain and simple round and round walks.

Few of us want to do this waiting business - it feels like we are just going round in circles, not achieving anything. For us it takes effort!

Yet the effort is worth it. After waiting patiently on God the time to make a noise and to head towards your goal does come. God prepares the way, crumbling away the blocks that stood in the way, and His purposes can be achieved. Yes at that moment physical effort will be put in (no doubt fighting with swords etc.) ... but the real effort was in waiting on God in the first place.