Shut Up and March!

By Mary Elizabeth Wholters

The Children of Israel were tired. They had walked and marched in the sun for six dusty days around a city that was evil and wicked. The people in the city were mocking them, throwing garbage on their heads, shouting curses for the last four days.

The first few days, the people of Jericho had looked over the walls in fear as they watched the Israelites march. They had heard of the God of the Israelites. They knew what God had done to their neighbors. But after so many dizzying days of watching them march around and around their city, they had begun to think nothing was going to happen. It was boring to them – and – to the children of God.

I can see the massive column of people plodding along, hearing the taunts of the enemy from the walls far above them. The kids were cranky. The expectant mothers and the elderly were sore and tired. They tried to ignore the taunts, but their attitudes showed the strain. They began to do only what they were told to do and no more. The dust was choking everything. The trumpets, once gleaming in the bright sun, were now dull and caked with dust. Oh, there were a few who were behind Joshua 100%. But most couldn't see the forest for the trees. You see, they didn't have the vision. They were not in direct contact with the one true God. Why were they marching? Because God said so? Because Joshua said so? Because everyone else was? I am sure that some were marching for one or more of these reasons, but most were doing it because somewhere down the line, someone began to push...

• “Move it will ya? Move it or I'll mow you down.”
• “I know you're tired, sweetie, but just a few more times and God is going to do something wonderful!”
• “Babe, could you rub my back for a minute? I'll keep walking, but my back is killing me!”
• “Sure, hon, I can do that. Are you and the babe all right?”
• “Yes, yes, we'll be fine.”
• “I wonder how God is going to do this. This seems really crazy – I hope it works!”
• “Did you see that guy on the wall? He was leering at me, Walk faster, I don't want him to see me again.”
• “How many times was that?”
• “Shhhhh! Will you just shut up and march?”

You see, the attitude had not changed from generation to generation. The same attitudes that got their parents and grandparents in trouble with Moses and God back in the wilderness had begun to creep back in. Oh, there were a few who got the message the first time; Caleb was one of them. Most of the others did not. The basic trust in their leader that every one of them should have had – they didn't exercise it.

There were gripes and complaints about why Joshua was chosen to be their leader when “they” could have done a much better job. Why was he so special? He hadn't done anything great. All he had done wast to say they could have taken a land with giants in it. GIANTS mind you! How were they supposed to fight giants? We sure would have looked silly taking on those giants. We would have lost miserably.

The God who had taken them safely out of Egypt was the same God who would deliver the giants into their hands. So, why, forty years later, was this attitude still prevalent? Maybe it's because none of the parents in that generation had dragged their kids before the elders of the camp, and said, “Tell them you are sorry” and. “We will have no more of that around here!” Instead, the parents went home, and said, “Yes, baby, you were right in saying what you did. That Moses shouldn't have gotten so angry with my little boy/girl.” (Pat, pat, pat on the head.) Their attitude should have been, “Now look,I will not tolerate any back-talking to or about Moses. He is our leader. Right or wrong, God put Him there for a purpose. We will serve the Lord, and in so doing, we will also be a servant to Moses.” And when the time came for Joshua to lead, children who had grown up with this kind of teaching would, in turn, tell their children the same thing. (See Deuteronomy 5:29.)

Do you not know that God could have blasted every enemy out of the land before they even stepped foot over the border? But time and again He tested them to see what they would do, and, sadly, they never quite seemed to get it.

This time, they had been told to march once around the city walls each day for six days; silently, saying nothing. On the seventh day, they were to march seven times around the walls, still silently, and then, when the priests blew the trumpets, they were to shout and make as much noise as they could – and watch what would happen. God delivered the land into their hands before they even got there, but He required of them an act of obedience to get the result.

Do we think we will get off any different? We are charged by God to obey, yet we seem to be willing to apply the rule to someone else and not ourselves. Verse after verse in the Bible takes on this matter of obedience; it's the “Obey them that have the rule over you” issue. It has a promise attached. Still, we continue to pawn it off on our kids and others, as if it's their job, not ours. The Word of God commands our children to obey – yes. But we, their parents, are supposed to demonstrate a life of willing, cheerful obedience. That, coupled with vocal support of our leadership, is a very important lesson.

Two of the reasons for showing unwavering support for our leaders are, 1.) so our kids will know what is right, and, 2.) so they will see the value of obedience. This is no time to be griping and complaining – in word, in thought, or in body language. We need to keep our attitude in line. The time has come. The time is now. It's time to... Shut up and march!