Fire trucks. Marching bands. Floats. And, candy, lots of candy. These are some of the childhood images that come to mind when I think of a parade. I remember how exciting it was to grab a grocery bag, sit on the side of the road, and gather all the sweets thrown my way. As I got older, I remember marching with the Scouts and decorating our high school class floats every year for the homecoming parade. When I joined the military, I spent the summer of 1986 learning the precision and detail that marching required. Those skills became very useful because we marched everywhere. Thirty five years later, I still get excited about a parade. I stand a little taller when I hear the heavy beat of a drum. I get chills at the sound of a firm, booming cadence being called. The sound of a group moving in sync is music to my ears. And, when the drum major raises that baton, my excitement grows because I know what is coming next. The air will be filled with the harmonious sounds of a band performing.
In Joshua 6, we learn that God used a parade to provide victory in battle. After crossing the Jordan River and into the Promised Land, the Israelites faced a formidable enemy in the highly fortified city of Jericho. They had no real weapons of significance to make the task of overtaking the city any easier. And, Joshua had to wonder if it was even possible to achieve such a feat. God met him and provided the plan for success.
Joshua followed God’s instructions and the people paraded around the city once each day for six days, while carrying trumpets of rams’ horns. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times and the priests blew the trumpets. And, when they made a long blast, everyone shouted and the wall around Jericho fell. The stronghold on the city was destroyed and the Israelites were victorious.
While God destroyed the city walls, there is so much more to be learned from the Jericho parade. God goes before us in all situations, working on our behalf, to claim victory. He promises to be with us just like he was with them. His message was, and still is, “I will not leave your or forsake you. Be strong and courageous...Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go... Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5-9, ESV).
Today, we face our own battles. We wrestle with personal circumstances that seem to take hold of our lives. Publicly, we are fighting a pandemic, struggling to overcome racism, and arguing over human rights. Like Joshua, we may wonder how to achieve triumph over these apparent strongholds. The Battle of Jericho can provide a reminder that victory is possible if we remain faithful and obedient to God. As the weather turns warmer, take some time to “parade” around your community. Pray for your neighbors, friends, and family. If you are talented enough to play an instrument, take it with you. Make a joyful noise. And, share in the excitement of knowing God is already there, will help us overcome our problems, and destroy the walls of sin, sickness, injustice, and hate in our lives.
