Order of Service

Scriptures:

Exodus 13:17-18; Exodus 13:21-22; Joshua 6:1-5

Exodus 13:17-18 

17. And it came to pass, when Pharoah had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

18. But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Exodus 13:21-22

21. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

22. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Joshua 6:1-5

1. Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

2. And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

3. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

4. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

5. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

Introduction

Church family and friends, waiting has always been a test of faith. Let me take you back into the story of Israel. After 400 years of slavery, God finally sent Moses to bring His people out. You would think after all that suffering, God would rush them straight into freedom. But instead of taking them the direct route – what the Bible calls “the way of the Philistines” – God led them the long way around, through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Now imagine it: about 600,000 men not including women and children walking out of Egypt, excitement in their steps, joy in their hearts, but then…instead of heading into the land of milk and honey, they’re staring at sand, wilderness, and an endless desert road. I can imagine, they may have been thinking, “Why this way? Why so long? Why are we still waiting?” Or as the Bible states they were murmuring, which is basically the same thing, complaining!! And isn’t that just like us sometimes? We pray, we fast, we serve, and we expect God to move right away. But sometimes, instead of answering on our schedule, He takes us on a detour. He doesn’t give us the shortcut – He gives us the safe cut. He doesn’t always move quickly, but He always moves wisely. Amen! Israel had to learn what we have to learn: God doesn’t just deliver us from something – He must prepare us for something. And the preparation happens while we wait. So, here’s the question: Can you trust God, not just when He delivers you, but when He delays you? Because the truth of the matter is: the process requires trust while waiting.

Exposition

Point 1 – The Process Protects You

When Israel came out of Egypt, there was a faster route to the Promised Land located in Canaan. It was called “the way of the Philistines.” This was the costal road, a straight shot that could’ve gotten them there in days. But the Bible says God did not lead them that way. Instead, He took them on the longer, harder path – through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Why? Because God knew them better than they knew themselves. That’s just like us, God knows us better than we know our selves too. You see, they were free from Egypt physically, but not yet free in their minds. God knew that if they had faced war too soon, they would have run right back to slavery. Israel had just come out of slavery – they were not prepared mentally, spiritually, or militarily for open battle.

Point 2 – The Process Prepares You

Let’s look at Israel at Jericho, instructed to march instead of fight. Yes, Israel finally made it to the edge of the Promised Land. They’d been wandering, waiting, and now Jericho’s massive walls stood in their way. Joshua 6:1 states, Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the Children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. You see, the people of Jericho closed their gates and locked down the city when they saw Israel encamped nearby. Out of fear, they didn’t allow anyone to leave the city (to escape) or enter the city (for trade, travel, or reinforcement). Now that’s fear! But see it was also God’s process!

Point 3 – The Process and Divine Instruction

When Israel stood at the Red Sea, it looked like there was no way out. Pharaoh was behind them, the water was in front of them, and fear was all around them. But God told Moses, “Lift up your rod, stretch out your hand, and the waters will part.” (This was strange instructions to conquer a sea, indeed!) And when Moses stretched out his rod, the waters parted. Israel walked through on dry ground – and when Pharaoh tried to follow, God swallowed up the enemy. Now………., let’s fast forward years later, when Israel stood before the walls of Jericho. It was the same type of problem, but a different setting. At the Red Sea, they couldn’t go forward because of the waters. At Jericho, they couldn’t go forward because of the walls. At the Red Sea, God told Moses, “Stretch out your rod.” At Jericho, God told Joshua, so to speak, “Stretch out your feet and march.” God told Joshua, “March around the city…. then shout (again, strange instructions indeed for a battle!) Both moments required waiting on God’s Divine instructions. And both ended in total victory – not partial victory.

Point 4 – The Process Leads to Victory

The walls of Jericho fell after obedience and a shout. After all the walking, after all the obedience – the shout came. And the walls fell flat! Don’t miss this! The shout without the process would have been just empty noise. But the shout after the process was charged with faith and obedience. How many of you know that faith and obedience are great weapons!? That’s exactly what brought the victory! Victory was not in the shortcut, not in the rushing God – but in the waiting while trusting the process God had ordained. Some blessings don’t come instantly. They’re unlocked step by step, prayer by prayer, lap by lap and process by process.

Closing

Remember, if you trust Him while waiting, you’ll discover He is faithful in the outcome. Because the same God who brought the Children of Israel out of the Red Sea and brought the walls of Jericho down and brought Jesus out of the grave will bring you out of your situation. Continue to trust Him in the midnight hour. Trust Him in the silent hour. Trust Him at the beginning of a storm. Trust Him in the middle of the storm. Because trusting the process means you’re trusting Jesus to bring you out– and if you trust Jesus while waiting, you’ll obtain the victory.

Give God Glory! Give God All The Glory!

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