Josh McDowell's Youth DevotionsSample

LIVE FROM JERICHO! Newscaster with microphone appears on screen before the smoking ruins of a city, visible in the background. "Dan Rathernot here, on location in Canaan, where the mighty city of Jericho has just been conquered by a ragtag band of warriors led by one Joshua ben Nun." Camera angle widens to reveal a robed man standing beside the newsman. "Here, for an exclusive interview with us, is the mastermind behind this astonishing military victory." Dan Rathernot turns, points microphone at Joshua. "Joshua ben Nun, thank you for agreeing to talk with us." "Uh, thank you, Dan, but I have to say, I'm not the mastermind of this victory. It was God's strategy." "Yes, well..." Dan Rathernot clears his throat. "Rumors are already flying around about your victory." He laughs nervously. "Some say that Jericho's city walls were destroyed with a shout." "That's absolutely true, Dan. God told us to march around the city once every day for six days. Then, on the seventh day, our army marched seven times around Jericho. On the seventh time around, the priests blew their rams' horns, the people shouted, and the walls crumbled into piles of dust." "That's, uh . . . heh, heh . . . quite a story." Dan Rathernot's left eyelid starts to twitch. "Didn't, uh, God's instructions seem kind of-well, er, silly to you?" "I could see how you might think they were silly, but you've got to understand one thing, Dan. I spent forty years in the wilderness of Sinai with Moses, hearing God speak and watching him work. I learned that it's best to do what God says, even if you don't understand it. If I had depended on my own understanding-" Joshua turns and points to the pile of rubble that used to be the city of Jericho-"the walls of Jericho would still be standing." Dan Rathernot smiles; camera zooms in for a close-up. "There you have it. An incredible story of one man, one God, one army, and one big mess for Jericho's street crews to clean up." REFLECT: God's instructions for conquering Jericho are recorded in Joshua 6:2-5. Do you think it was easy for Joshua and the Israelites to follow God's instructions? Why or why not? Do you think they would have conquered Jericho if they had not followed God's instructions? Why or why not? Do you always understand God's commands? Do you think you should follow them even if you don't understand them? Why or why not? ACT: Walk around your house and make note of the things you use or obey without understanding all about them (electricity, gasoline engines, radio and TV waves). PRAY: "Lord, help me to trust you, even when your commands seem hard to understand."