Joshua 6:10 (AMPC), “But Joshua commanded the people, You shall not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall any word proceed out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout!”

It’s pretty amazing to consider that the Israelites’ war tactic was to be silent for 6 days, before making a victorious shout. In history, insistent war cries incited great fear in the enemy and worked well to intimidate. This strategy was so strange. What was God thinking when He told Joshua to command the people to march around the walls of Jericho silently? I believe this instruction was really focused at the Israelites on the outside of the city, more than at the enemy inside its walls. For years God’s people had been known for their faithless attitude towards Him. They grumbled and complained far more than they trusted and praised Him. No matter how loud a victory shout sounds, if it’s not empowered by a confident, victorious spirit, it will have little to no effect at all.  So, Joshua told the Israelites to look straight ahead and keep quiet. They were to keep their mouths shut to words of doubt, unbelief, and negativity. Those are the very things that stop the flow of faith and hinder the supernatural power of God from working in our lives. James 3:10-11 says, “…blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?” A genuine victory shout cannot be preceded by a mouth filled with grumbling defeat! While we are believing for our breakthrough, we would do well to keep our eyes fixed on God’s Word and refuse any talk that contradicts His promises. This way the power of God that is working our miracle is not hindered and our victory shout comes from a deep conviction that has already caused us to win the battle!