Follow the Recipe

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” 
– Joshua 6:2-5 NIV

When I was in junior high and high school, I became a pretty good cook. Many a weeknight, it was my responsibility to cook the family meal. I learned how to follow the recipe and not to vary from it. 

At times I would question the recipe. Might even try to change it because “That sounds silly… Why would I do that?”

I quickly learned that if I did vary from the recipe, the meal would likely end up in the garbage disposal, trash can or fed to the dogs (if they would eat it), and we’d be scrambling to check the Tupperware dishes for edible leftovers… or if all else failed, a frozen pizza or a trusty peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

If I skipped a step or didn’t have all the ingredients, the meal would be inedible.

If I didn’t follow the instructions to the letter, the meal would be ruined.

God gave Joshua a plan. A recipe, if you would, on how to defeat Jericho. All he had to do was follow His instructions and Jericho would be theirs.

Jericho’s walls were 11 feet high and 14 feet wide. They were virtually impregnable. For man, it was impossible and overwhelming to even consider getting in, much less destroy.

When Jacob announced the strategy that God Himself laid out, I wonder how the people responded. I wonder what ran through their minds when they heard what seemed like such a foolish plan?

“Well that’s a silly plan… There’s no way that will work, but ok…”

Joshua followed God’s unusual plan to the letter. He had faith that God was who He said He was and would do what He said He would do.

So they marched. One time around Jericho each day for 6 days. On the 7th day they marched around 7 times. Seven priests in front carrying rams horn trumpets in front of the ark of the covenant. A long trumpet blast. A loud shout by the army. 

And the walls came tumbling down.

They followed God’s instructions and the walls of Jericho came down and they went straight in. Jericho was theirs. The recipe worked perfectly.

In a little less than a month, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus, the beginning of God’s perfect recipe for us. 

God’s unusual yet perfect plan so that we might know Him. His grace. His love. His forgiveness. So that we might one day be with Him in heaven. If only we would trust and believe in this Child, the Savior of the world. If only our walls would fall.

If only we follow the Recipe.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 
– Isaiah 55:8-9