Daily Devotional

“And the Lord said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valour’ ” (Joshua 6:2). 

He never saw his supreme bridge-building achievement. When John Roebling was commissioned to design and construct the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the greatest engineering projects of his time, he died while it was still being built. His son Washington took over the job as chief engineer in 1869, making several improvements on his father’s original designs. 

While he was working in a large, watertight structure used to construct the foundations of the bridge piers, Washington got decompression sickness and eventually had to leave the jobsite. Though in poor health, he continued to direct the work through his wife, Emily Warren Roebling. She took over much of the chief engineer’s duties and daily went to the site to communicate his instructions. Never in history had someone conducted such a large project in absentia. 

God was invisible to the children of Israel. Joshua was their visible guide, and he took orders from the Commander of the Lord’s army— Christ. As the workers trusted Emily Roebling to represent Washington, the Israelites had to believe in the direction of Joshua. 

The instructions for destroying Jericho deeply tested their loyalty to God. Marching around a city was a strange way to conquer this key stronghold leading into the Promised Land. Each day they marched one time around the well-fortified walls, for a total of six days. But on the seventh day they advanced seven times around the city and then were ordered to give a shout. And the walls came tumbling down. 

It was God’s purpose that the Israelites not rely on their own wisdom and strength for conquering their enemies. Only through the power of the Lord was Canaan overthrown. Trusting in Joshua’s words, they believed and were victorious. “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down” (Hebrews 11:30). 

What impossible projects do you face? Trust in your unseen Leader. 

O God, though I cannot see You, I hear Your voice speaking through the stories of Your people.