“Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!”

Joshua 6:10 NLT

We have often heard the phrase “the calm before the storm.”

An unusual quietness before a situation often leads to overwhelming activity afterward. One example is the ocean—how it quietly retracts before it surges with the force of a tsunami.

Throughout the Bible, God instructed certain people to remain quiet, not to speak, and to be still. The aftermath of those seasons of silence reveals marvelous acts that display the glory of God.

Joshua 6 records the fall of the walls of Jericho. God commanded Joshua to instruct the people and the priests to march around the walls quietly—no talking, no murmuring, no shouting, no rejoicing—just silence and obedience.

Then came the day when, at God’s command, a shout was released. The walls of Jericho fell—no war, no fighting, no arguments. The walls simply came tumbling down. This passage reminds us that God often takes us through a season of quietness so we can witness the great fall of our walls.

The great army of Joshua—priests, soldiers, and common people—along with their households, even their children, walked in profound silence. In that God-instructed stillness, even nursing babies seemed not to make a sound; only the footsteps of obedience were heard. Every personal agenda and agenda-driven voice was set aside to witness God’s victory. Their mouths did not do the work; their walk of faith did.

In quietness, God equips us to build trust, faith, and resilience. Being still is also an act of obedience that pleases Him. We may not face a physical Jericho wall, but we do encounter walls in the form of situations, people, and problems. Not every wall needs to be addressed with words; some battles are won in silence, through trust and faithful obedience.

The God who parted the Red Sea did not allow His people to remain stuck at the walls of Jericho. The final shout that brought the walls down thundered so powerfully that even the strongest and tallest walls lost their grip. There is a season and a time for everything under heaven. The Word of God encourages us to be still in His presence, to wait for His move, and to listen closely to His instructions.

Opening our mouths in situations where God calls us to be silent can hinder our breakthrough. But there will come a time when the weeping that endures through the night will turn into joy in the morning. No wall is greater than our Jehovah. You will plunder and possess what belongs to you. You will move forward into your promised land. Your victory is closer than you think.

You only need to remember:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

Psalm 46:10

Prayer:

Lord, teach us to be still in Your presence and to trust You even in seasons of silence. Help us to obey Your instructions fully and to walk by faith, not by sight. May every wall before us fall at Your appointed time, and may Your glory be revealed in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.