Something Is Happening Behind "the Seen"

Every step you take is cutting through the wall though you cannot see it.

The Israelites were facing the intimidating wall of Jericho. This was a land that God had given (by promise) to their forefather hundreds of years ago yet, "Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in" (Joshua 6:1).

Joshua had no idea how he was going to deal with this depressing situation. I imagined him simply pacing the floor; walking up and down around the wall and thinking, "Lord, how do we deal with this?"

The wall of Jericho cannot be pulled down by swords, arrows, spears or guns. There were no bulldozers or bombs like we have today. They were just there, unsure of what to do.

Then God spoke to Joshua and said, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valour" (verse 2).

God was reassuring him that he was in the right place despite the obvious obstacle.

We are often bound to think we have taken the wrong decision because of oppositions. Know this:

Challenges are not necessarily an indication of a wrong decision; they may in fact be proofs that we are on the right course.

Jericho was intentionally "securely shut up BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL." The enemy knew they were coming so the security was beefed up to ensure that their land was not taken.

This is why you should not just assume that the challenges you face at the moment are indications that you are in the wrong place. You need to find out again before you jump to a conclusion.

Remember, you started this ministry, this business, this marriage, this enterprise, this degree program or whatever pursuit you have based on a conviction. It wasn't a frivolous decision. You prayed and sought counsel before you decided.

So, your challenges might not necessarily mean that you are wrong. Perhaps, this is the time to prove that you are right by staying the course.

Meanwhile, God began to give Joshua instructions on how to deal with this intimidating situation. They were to match around the wall once every day for the next six days and seven times on the seventh day after which they were to shout.

If they obey this instruction, "the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in" (verse 5).

Instructions are the keys to the destruction of every obstruction on the way to your destination.

Be sensitive to the instructions that God might be giving you in the face of the intimidating challenges that you face.

The people of Israel began to obey the instructions. They set out the first day and marched around the city. There wasn't so much stress the first day since the idea seems new and it was a kind of excursion for most of them. It was an opportunity to walk around the city.

But by the second or third day, most of them began to get tired of the boring exercise especially as they were not allowed to talk until the day they were to shout (verse 10).

Some of them must have asked, "What's the sense in this? How does walking around a city culminate in the crushing of this intimidating wall?"

But I realized that just like the axe/saw is used to cut the wood, God was using every completed walk to cut through the wall of the city.

Something was happening in the unseen though everything remained the same in the seen.

God didn't allow them to talk because they might begin to say things that will dampen their spirits and weaken their faith. It's why silence is sometimes golden in seasons of challenges. Even if you think doubt and unbelief, don't reinforce it with your words.

Keep at what God is asking you to do. You can be sure that every step you take is cutting through the wall though you cannot see it.

Every application you write, every interview you attend, every proposal you submit, every prayer you pray and every effort you make will eventually lead to the collapse of the wall. Something is happening behind the scene. God is at work and He is doing everything to make things work for you.

Eventually, at the end of the seventh walk on the seventh day after they had shouted, "the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city" (verse 20).

This is why I believe that with faith and consistency, this wall before you will collapse and you will take the city. Yes, that city of a successful life, thriving business, fruitful ministry and peaceful home shall be yours. You will take the city!

I wouldn't know if you remember Isaac. He was growing old yet there was no suitor.

There was nothing that should have delayed a man like Isaac. He was already a successful man. He didn't have to hustle like many today. His dad was rich and had handed over all his properties, investments and companies to him.

But Isaac wanted to marry right. He knew the implications of getting hooked to the wrong person. So, he was waiting for God's will and for God's time.

He was praying and meditating in God's word; believing that God would come through for him someday. While Isaac was waiting, he clocked 40 yet no suitor.

But behind the scene, a lot was going on. His prayers and patience were not in vain. We saw how Abraham was taking responsibility for the marriage of Isaac. How he put his eldest servant under oath to ensure he picked the right girl. How the servant had to pray earnestly and trust God for the right choice. How God ordered the steps of Rebecca to the well and how God moved her to fulfil all the signs that the servant had given to God. And how Laban and Bethuel confirmed that Rebecca was God's will for Isaac. A lot was going on behind the scene and Isaac didn't know.

All he saw suddenly was a flock of camels coming with his beloved wife. The Bible says, "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening, and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming" (Genesis 24:63).

Friend, lift your eyes because the camels are coming, bringing your desires; the camels are coming bringing your miracle. Lift your eyes. Stop bowing your head in discouragement and depression. The camels are coming!

The role Abraham played in the choice of a life partner for Isaac is a prototype of what your heavenly Father is doing behind the scene.

He is doing so much on your behalf to ensure that everything comes out right. It is just that you cannot see or feel it. Yours is to keep trusting Him and be faithful to the duties and instructions given to you.

Yes, all you see right now is obstacles, walls and challenges but the truth is this: something is happening behind the seen.

© Olufemi Babalola

P.S. Join about 200 individuals in a WhatsApp Group as we look at the critical issue of sexual purity this Sunday.

Join here!