Pulaski Academy football coach Kevin Kelley never punts. He always kicks onside. He is nationally known as the innovative “disrupter” for his strange strategy of not punting and always kicking onside. His methods have led to eight state championships and a 203-29-1 record as a head coach for over 28 years. ESPN Films featured him in its “Undefeated”documentary, which showed his team beating the powerhouse Highland Park team from Dallas. Highland Park had won 84 games in a row until Pulaski Academy upset them.

Most coaches would never follow Kelley’s no-punt or always-kick-on-side strategies. Can you imagine how weird it must have been for the Israelites to be told by God to persistently march around Jericho for seven days? Jericho, the key city of Canaan’s defense, was on “red alert.” God gave Joshua a strange strategy to demonstrate His provision as a Conqueror. All Israel needed to do was obey and march!

Joshua 5-6 – Unwavering Faith

Archaeology confirms the walls of Jericho fell flat. God gave Jericho to Israel, but Israel had to claim victory by faith. He desires a “partnership” with His people. We walk by faith while He produces the victory! God always has the best plans, and His methods are unpredictable. Faith works in all ages for believers. We overcome the world by faith (Hebrews 11:30).

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete believe their job is to obey what the Bible teaches and trust the Lord to care for their circumstances, even when it is not clear how obedience to His Word will resolve a difficult situation.

Bible Verse: “Now it happened when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel.” Joshua 5:1 (LSB)