A Story of God and All of Us Young Reade - By Roma Downey Page 0,15

For forty years since escaping Pharaoh, the Israelites have wandered the wilderness of the desert. They have brought with them the Ark of the Covenant. Their Ark needs a home, as do they. And they are prepared to fight for it. Joshua has sent spies into the city to search for weaknesses.

"Joshua," exclaims a breathless Nashon as he races to their leader.

Joshua is hunkered down over a fire, breathing in the still night air and wondering how God will choose to get them inside the city.

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"Tell me," asks Joshua, "did you find a way in? Is there a weakness?"

"The walls are solid and thick," Nashon exclaims. "But the people's hearts are not. We met a woman. She thinks that God has already taken the city and that there is nothing the people of Jericho can do about it. Their people are already melting in fear because they believe God is with us."

Joshua could leap for joy. "He is with us! But we've still got to find a way to get inside those walls."

Joshua claps Nashon on the shoulder and wanders away from the fire. He thinks of his old friend, long since departed, and his constant demonstrations of faith. "Moses, old friend," Joshua wonders aloud, "what would you do?"

As he saw Moses do so many times, Joshua climbs a nearby mountain.

Then he falls to his knees and prays. This, he remembers, is what Moses did constantly: pray. When life was uncertain, Moses prayed for guidance. When life was spectacular, Moses prayed words of thanks. When life was mysterious, Moses prayed for wisdom. Prayer was Moses' way.

"Lord," he begins, "I was a slave when you showed me your love and your

power.... You gave me a new life, a life that I cherish, despite its daily hardships. You

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have brought us so far, but now these mighty city walls stand before us.

What is your will? What would you have us do?"

Out of the silence comes a whoosh of air. The flames of Joshua's torch burn sideways as a blast of wind levels them. A great and mighty warrior has appeared out of nowhere and stands before him now. A hood covers his head, but nothing hides his posture, strong shoulders, and the great sword in his hand.

Joshua is terrified. "Who are you?" he asks very carefully.

The warrior is silent.

Joshua bows his head, overwhelmed. This warrior is mighty. Joshua slowly looks up and asks, "Are you with us or against us?"

The warrior's face is dark, and his eyes unblinking. "I am with God," he tells Joshua. There is no affect to his voice, just power. "I am commander of the Lord's army."

This is an answer to Joshua's prayer. As terrifying as the warrior might be, Joshua knows God is with him. "What does God ask of us?"

"The Lord parted the water for Moses--but for you..." The angel thrusts the blade of that great sword deep into the ground. Instantly, the earth begins to 60

crack. The fissure widens and widens, spreading out around Joshua but never harming him. "He will split rock. This is what you must do...."

Joshua listens closely to what the angel tells him. Very closely.

It is daytime. The Israelite army assembles into an orderly formation and marches on Jericho. But they do not attack. Instead, they march around the city's walls, just as the commander of God's army ordered Joshua. They will repeat this exercise each day for six consecutive days, as instructed.

Joshua marches with his army, the words of the angel ringing in his ears:

"March around the city once a day with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Carry the Ark of the Covenant around the city. It contains God's commandments, showing that the Almighty is with you."

Joshua sees the men carrying the Ark. Thousands of sandal-covered feet kick up dust. Yes, he thinks, we are doing precisely as I was told.

But Joshua also knows that the best is yet to come. For on the seventh day, his men will not rest, as God did when creating the heavens and the earth.

No, the

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Israelite army will march seven times around the city walls, after which Israelite priests will blow a special trumpet made from the hollowed horn of a ram--called a shofar--and then, with an enormous shout from the Israelite army, the mighty walls of Jericho will fall down.

Joshua knows that up and down the ranks, many of his soldiers are struggling with this plan. It seems ludicrous, and most definitely impossible.

To march around Jericho in the hot desert