Risking Success

Point of Reference: Joshua 6:1 Jericho was bolted and barred shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites.
The cowardly Israelites 40 years earlier made a rush-to-judgment about Canaan and incorrectly assumed it was an unconquerable land. Jericho assumed, rightly so, that the invading Israeli army was unstoppable. But because of the false assumption of the Israelites the correct assumption of the people of Jericho failed to materialize—for 40 years. Weird, the enemies of God’s people had a better handle on reality than did God’s people. God’s people failed to risk success for fear of failure.
This whole scenario got me to thinking (a dangerous thing) about other times the people of God failed to achieve what God had planned because they/we feared failure. We’ve scaled back on plans because they were too aggressive and “we probably wouldn’t be able to afford it.” Never mind that God said, “Do it” and was on the hook to provide the funds; it didn’t seem feasible and do-able, so we didn’t risk success for fear of failure.
Nothing in my experience compares to attacking a walled city, like Jericho, with a battle plan similar to what God gave Joshua. Verses 3-5 read: All the soldiers will march around the city once a day for 6 days. Seven priests will carry rams’ horns ahead of the ark. But on the 7th day you must march around the city 7 times while the priests blow their horns. When you hear a long blast on the horn, all the troops must shout very loudly. The wall around the city will collapse. Then the troops must charge straight ahead into the city. Strangest battle plan ever devised. March daily for 6 days, on the 7th day make 7 trips around the city, then blow horns and shout. Much easier than battering rams and siege ramps that would take months, maybe even years, to complete. If a pastor today suggested such a ridiculous strategy for advancing the Kingdom of God, he’d be fired on the spot.
Perhaps it was because they had just crossed the Jordan River on dry ground (God parted the water for them) and saw first-hand what God was capable of doing. Perhaps it was because they liked having a new leader and Joshua had successfully delivered them onto Canaan’s soil. Perhaps it was because they had finally learned to trust God. Perhaps…it doesn’t matter the perhaps, they did what God told Joshua to have them do. They marched and probably looked ridiculous in the process. But they chose to risk success OVER the fear of failure. And God honored their work. Jericho fell.
It’s time we take a new look at ventures the Lord is leading us to attempt. We sit down and count the cost—which is Biblical. But usually we discount the intangible leading of the Lord over the tangible visible cost. We often allow our fear of failure to stop us from moving forward. We don’t want to risk failure. But WHAT IF we were willing to risk success? Nothing of significance has ever been accomplished without a certain amount of risk. The successful folks were willing to risk failure because they knew/know you can’t have success without the option of failure.
Are you facing any challenges today that have you in a quandary? Are you unable to make a decision for fear of failure? Is the risk of success an option? Bet it is!