The trumpets were sounding. Everyone was hurrying out of their tents. There was an excited chattering, and as the children caught up with each other the question they asked was the same which could be heard throughout the Camp - ‘What has the Lord told Joshua?’
‘You wont have to wait long’ their parents told them. ‘As soon as everyone arrives Joshua will tell us.’
When everyone was gathered Joshua told the people what he had told the priests.
“God has given the city of Jericho to us. The king and his mighty warriors are as good as defeated already, because the Lord is with us.”
A great cheer went up from the people ‘The Lord is with Joshua and with us’ they shouted.
Joshua smiled when he saw their faith, then held up his hand for silence. “This is what we must do” he called. “We must walk around the city every day for six days. The Army will lead us, followed by seven priests carrying trumpets of rams horns, and the Ark will follow. The priests will blow their rams horns continuously, But, no-one shall speak. There must be absolute silence. On the seventh day we shall walk around the walls seven times THEN when the trumpeters give one long loud blast, we are all to give a mighty shout - and the city walls will fall down.”
For a moment or two there was complete silence as the people thought of this extraordinary announcement. No battering rams! No trenches dug! No military preparations at all! Just a silent walk, then a mighty shout, and the walls would fall!!!
“This is the word of the Lord” shouted Joshua. “Do we trust Him?”
“YES” the people roared.
“Have we faith that He can do this without our help, but with our faith?”
Again the people roared back “Yes” this time accompanied by much laughter as they thought of the strangeness of this command.
“Then let’s begin right now” Joshua called.
‘Let’s stick together’ Reuben whispered, and they formed up behind their parents and other relatives.
As they walked around, Anna noticed the people in the houses on the walls peering down at them. She nudged Deborah, and pointed. Deborah looked up and almost giggled. Quickly she put her hand over her mouth as she saw the look of puzzlement on their faces. She nudged Reuben, and Dan and pointed. The boys, too, had great difficulty in trying not to laugh. Their parents, hearing strange little noises, turned around frowning, but when the boys showed them the cause of their merriment they, too, smiled, but put a warning finger to their lips.
Round the walls they went until they had completed the circle.
“You have done well” said Joshua. “Now return to Camp and we will meet again at dawn.”
Once they were in their tent Reuben and Deborah had many questions.
‘Why have we to be silent?’
‘Perhaps it’s because we need to hear the long trumpet blast’ suggested Mum. ‘If everyone was talking and laughing we wouldn’t be able to hear it, would we?’
‘No, then we couldn’t shout’ agreed Deborah.
‘Why are the priests carrying the Ark?’ was another question.
‘I think we carry it as a sign of God’s Presence and Promise’ said Dad. ‘When we see the Ark going before us, and we follow in obedience to His command, it makes a secure and loving bond between us and God. He leads us in safety, and we follow in complete trust’ he explained. ‘Do you understand that?’
‘Yes’ said the children, thinking of their talk with the mysterious man with the spear.
‘We trust God because we remember all the things He has done for us in the past.’
‘So we can trust Him for the future.’
Mum and Dad looked at each other. ‘Well! Who have you been talking to?’ asked Mum.
The children smiled at each other - ‘Someone very special’ was all they said.
Elizabeth Aynsley ©