There was great joy in the Camp when the people heard of Joshua’s Heavenly Visitor. They praised God not only for leading them safely from Egypt to Canaan, but also for showing them so clearly that He was still with them - and always would be.
Then Joshua called the priests for an important meeting. He was going to tell them The Plans of the Lord!
The children were impatient to learn what was going to happen.
‘Why don’t we walk up to Jericho whilst we are waiting, we may be able to look through the gates’ Reuben suggested.
‘It’s quite a walk’ Anna pointed out.
‘Aren’t you used to walking by now?' Dan teased.
Anna threw a pebble at him.
‘Yes, let’s go’ agreed Deborah before it could develop into a free-for-all! ‘It’s better than just sitting here.’
‘All right’ Anna gave in, and they set off through the sea of tents towards the gates of Jericho.
‘I’ve heard that it’s a very beautiful and rich city. It’s known as ‘The City of Palm Trees’ Deborah informed them as they walked along.
‘Where did you hear that?’ asked Anna.
‘Oh, I’m not the only one who keeps my ears open’ teased Deborah as she looked at Dan.
It was as they were laughing, that a man stepped in front of them. 'And where do you think you are off to?' he asked. He was carrying a sword, but he was smiling so the children were not afraid.
‘We are going to look at the walls of Jericho’ said Dan.
‘And see if we can look through the gates’ added Reuben.
'I’m sorry, you aren’t allowed to go near the walls of the city at the moment' the man informed them. 'But I can tell you something about them, if you are interested.'
Of course the children were interested - this was fascinating! So they sat on the grass whilst the man explained. 'There are actually two walls' he began. 'The outer wall is 6ft. thick, very strong, and the inner wall is even stronger, it’s 12ft. thick, and they are 5 yards apart.'
The children were horrified. ‘We will never to able to break through those walls’ said Anna, putting all their thoughts into words.
‘And I can see houses on top of the walls’ Deborah pointed - ‘Look!’
'Yes' the man agreed. 'There is solid timber stretching between the walls, and the houses are built on that. BUT, you are forgetting that God has given us this land. It’s “The Promised Land” - remember?'
Oh dear! Yesterday they had been singing “We aren’t afraid, ‘cos God is on our side” and now, today, after they had seen the strong walls they had forgotten their song! They looked at each other in dismay. How could they have forgotten so soon?
The man seemed to understand. 'You aren’t the only ones to just see the problems, and not the One who can solve them' he said. 'Everyone feels like that at times.'
Dan sighed. ‘We should have remembered the crossing of the Red Sea’ he said.
‘And the pillar of fire.’
‘And the pillar of cloud.’
‘And the manna, and the quails.’
The children were all talking excitedly as they recalled how God had looked after them.
'That’s right. That’s the thing to do’ the man said to them. 'When you feel discouraged and just see the thickness of the walls of your problems, look back and remember. Think of the many times when God has knocked down all your worries and has been there to help you.'
‘Do you think God will knock down these walls too?’ asked Anna.
'Just you wait and see' he smiled.
The children got up. ‘I’m glad I met you’ said Dan.
‘So am I’ the others agreed.
'And I’m glad I met you, too' the man replied. 'Now you can go back to your tents knowing that whatever God asks us to do we can do it with His help - can’t we?'
The children nodded their heads. Yes! With God nothing was impossible.
‘Good-bye’ they called. ‘We will remember.’
They walked a few steps, then turned to wave - But there was no-one there!
Elizabeth Aynsley ©