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“And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.” – Joshua 6:23

Being in a season of waiting is never easy, but often necessary. Rahab could certainly say her waiting season was no easy task. When the spies show up at Rahab’s door on the city’s wall, they give no message of when they will return. They simply tell her she and those within her house will be saved.

So first Rahab is waiting for their return, but her waiting does not stop there. When the army of Israel begins to march toward the city walls of Jericho, no doubt Rahab’s heart began to leap with gladness, believing that her waiting would soon be over. But as they march, they only circle the wall. They march around it once and return to their camp.

Rahab must have wondered why they would show up and not take her back with them. This marching around the city walls carries on for seven days. Rahab had no way of know that on the seventh day deliverance would come. She simply sat there waiting.

I can imagine Rahab’s family mocking and wondering why this girl had called them into her house for an extremely long sleepover. No doubt they grew impatient waiting with her, wondering if this waiting game was actually necessary. But Rahab just kept waiting. Waiting for Joshua and his men to honor the promise of the spies. Her faith was unmatched as she trusted in her season of waiting.

Then day seven came. Day seven, though unknown to Rahab at the time, was deliverance day.

How often do we feel trapped on a wall? We can’t jump off the wall to escape our burden. We can walk out, but that would be to disobey God. Like Rahab, we may be able to see God working in some fashion, but our deliverance is not quite within reach. We can see the marching, hear His voice, but we remain stuck in our storm.

To leave the wall could lead to us missing God’s will and blessings for our lives. How sad would it have been if on day six, Rahab had decided she was tired of waiting and left the safety of her home? Day seven would have come and Rahab and her family would have been burned with the rest of the city. Rahab’s future blessings would have been burned to ashes.  

Maybe you’re ready to jump off the wall or walk out the door. You’ve waited and waited but is seems God is far off. Or perhaps you see God working in your situation, but He is moving slower than you hoped.

Keep trusting. Keep praying.

Take courage, day seven is coming.