Pastor's wife: When God doesn't make sense

By DAWN REED

Thursday, September 24, 2026

The story of Jericho in Joshua 6 is familiar. Yet, no matter how many times we have heard it, when we slip our feet into the sandals of the Israelites, we can learn something new. Our age and our situation can lend a new perspective on following God when it doesn’t make sense.

The Israelites had just walked through the Jordan River when it was at flood stage. 

They had eaten the manna that fell from the sky every single morning for years.

God had led them for decades through the desert with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. From experience, they knew He could be trusted.

Newly in the Promised Land, they faced Jericho, a strongly fortified city.

First came His promise: “I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and fighting men.” Yay! That was a relief.

God’s instructions were clear: “March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.” (Joshua 4:13 mentions 40,000 armed men who went through the Jordan River ahead of the Ark of the Covenant. I will keep that number in mind here.) 

There were priests to carry the ark of the covenant. Seven other priests who went before the ark were armed as well - not with cannons, grenades, or rocket launchers, but with trumpets.

God knew exactly what He was doing. He was about to get some glory.

Last Sunday, the number of days struck me. It lasted one whole week. For six days, they obeyed God’s instructions. Joshua had commanded: “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word…” Do not say a word. That is a very big deal. Surely by the fourth or fifth day, complaining would have set in: “I’m so tired.” “My feet are hurting.” “This is stupid.” “Are we there yet?” By the sixth day, frustration would have marched along with them: “When are we going to do something important?”

But God’s timing was perfect. He was getting ready to do something huge. They only had to obey…even if it didn’t make sense.

You may know the next part. The LORD told Joshua: “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.” They did.

It happened just like He said it would. Even though it didn’t make sense. 

The Israelites had to keep going one day at a time. They couldn’t quit. God could be trusted. He was with them and promised to give them victory.

We may not face a fortified city, but we can face lots of other hard things. It may seem that we are marching in circles or that obstacles are unconquerable. One frustrating day may be followed by six more. God promises us through His good Word that He will be with us (Isaiah 41:10) and will give us victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). He will give us the strength to carry on. 

Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Keep marching forward. Even if God’s ways don’t make sense.

___

Dawn Reed is a pastor's wife, newspaper columnist, and the author of Weiner Stew: Inspiring Stories from Appalachia. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com. 

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Quote: Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Keep marching forward. Even if God’s ways don’t make sense.

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File: 20260521-090725-a35-Dawn Reed.jpg

Caption: Dawn Reed