The Hand Signal of Victory

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city…..For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. Joshua 8:18‭, ‬26 KJV

Hand and arm signals are old forms of communication used by the military worldwide, especially where there is no room for radio signals. At the time of this battle, there were no radios. Its very significant what God directed Joshua to do: stretch out his hands towards heaven and Ai. In prayer warfare today, they are called prophetic actions. By raising the spear to heaven and towards Ai, Joshua declared war against the city, and summoned all angelic assistance to finish the battle. This act was not mere drama. It probably reminded Joshua of Moses stretching out his hands to God in the battle of Rephidim. Have you ever had a stirring in the place of prayer to act out victory, yet you are not involved in entertainment.. Joan Emery of Gospel Faith Messenger has given a beautiful explanation of this prophetic acts. ” A prophetic act is more than – or differs from – a spoken word of prophecy, or word of knowledge. It’s an action, something we DO under the anointing and unction of the Holy Spirit as a step of faith, as an act of obedience to release the power, the presence and the victory of God into a situation”. We do not have to struggle to win. We have help from above. Sometimes, it may simply be a spirit directed prophetic action. What’s your experience?