Breath

In our previous devotional, we looked at the priests in the scripture passage, and today I want to talk about the trumpets. So, let’s review that text, Joshua 6:6-11:

“So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.’ And he ordered the army, ‘Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.’ When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. But Joshua had commanded the army, ‘Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout.’ So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.”

The trumpets they used were not the silver ones made for ordinary service. No. These were made from rams’ horns that had been hollowed out for this particular purpose. These had a dull sound, not made to sound pretty. To look at or hear this trumpet, you wouldn’t think much of it. There’s a parallel here.

Isaiah 53:2 tells us, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.” Ordinary-looking, just like any other man, and by faith his true identity became visible. Our outward appearance should be something we’re humbly aware of rather than an act to impress the world (Matthew 23:12, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”). The trumpets, dull and boring, would bring liberty to Israel and show the power belonged to God. God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary.

1 Corinthians 1:18-21, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’”

The method of preaching is called foolishness. It is simple. To those who are dying in sin, the path to life through the cross doesn’t make sense. God has packed much into a crucifixion. In this time, crucifixions were performed on the worst criminals. To those philosophers expecting a savior and one who was to conquer, it was repulsive. We know our human nature is full of pride, and if we were able to understand and reason away the salvation process, we would brag about it and say we had something to do with it, right? God designed it to take any work of human hand out of it. We are humbled in the process of salvation, relinquishing any human work, and any glory is rendered to God. We only understand it when we move completely by faith.

Then, we understand how the preaching of the Word of God is when and how people hear the message of salvation – faith comes by hearing. Romans 10:14-17, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Do you see how this is the breath of God?

So often we spend our time trying to be extraordinary at (fill in the blank), which we weren’t meant to be. It’s unnecessary! God has gifted you with passions and talents for what YOU WERE meant to be. When we lean in to those, we will be happier, more fulfilled and more effective. Picture perfect, it’s not realistic. Start focusing on kingdom worthy actions for your emotional and spiritual benefit. Am I saying never do those other things? No. But we should keep a balance and our eyes on what will make the most impact for the kingdom of God.

The instrument of God you are has been hollowed out and filled with the very breath of God, the Holy Spirit. I know he will do a marvelous work in you! Praying for you today.

So, how does this apply to your life today? Where and what has God prepared you to do and are you leaning into that?

Continue putting these verses to memory as we continue in our obedience devotionals:

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV