Israel had suffered at the hands of the Egyptians. They had known deliverance through the blood of the lamb. Due to unbelief they had wandered for forty years in the wilderness.
They came to the brink sitting on the East bank of the Jordan, with the river of impossibility to face, the Lord brought them through the mighty Jordan.
They had observed the rite of circumcision and the Passover Lamb had once again been commemorated.
There had been much preparation much planing now the moment of truth had arrived now there is no turning back.
They stood facing Jericho, they had no where to run, and no where to hide this was it. The first taste of conflict in the Promised Land for this people.
What excitement
What apprehension
What anticipation
What doubts
I am sure there were many mixed emotions but this was it, the time had arrived it was make or break.
As we have just entered a new millennium with all of its challenges we face continuing spiritual warfare. It is sad that many have turned back, they have decided that it really is not worth it.
As I read Joshua chapter six, I believe we can see many reasons for wanting to turn back, and yet much encouragement for going forward.
Someone has said, "you are a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict".
The word of God lets us know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Christian life is one of conflict but praise God, conflict and victory.
2 Tim. 2:3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
But we are promised victory.
Col. 2:14-15 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
I am told that there was a time when the king of France had two castles. Mantleberry was a place remote from danger, La Rochelle on the coast was liable for continual sieges.
A young man was once asked which commander does the king of France value the most?
"The king values him the most who has the hardest task and braves the greatest dangers"
The battles we face are a measure to how much the Lord values us.
May the Lord encourage us as we face spiritual warfare daily, may we not turn back but turn up and do exploits for our God.
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Let us take our place among the ranks of Joshuaís men and imagine some reasons why we might turn back and flee from the battle.
1.The mighty fortress.
Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
It is estimated this city covered about eight acres, archaeologists discovered two walls which surrounded the city. It is believed that this was probably the strong hold in the land of Canaan. Take this city and what encouragement Godís people would receive, what fear it would put in the hearts of Godís enemies.
Joshua’s strategy was to attack the centre of Canaan, thus divide and conquer, two cities lay in the centre, Jericho and Ai. Jericho came first.
Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
The city was in a state of red alert because of the children of Israel it was shut up none went out and none came in.
This great city with its mighty walls would appear a very daunting prospect remember forty years previously these mighty fortresses had cause Godís people to flee through unbelief.
Numbers 13:28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
Deut. 1:28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.
It could be that as you consider the daunting prospect of getting involved in the spiritual battle that you have said, "no, it is not for me".
Have you looked around and drawn certain conclusions, perhaps if we had been with Joshua we would have said, "look at the walls look at the locks. It is pointless we would just be wasting our time".
I wonder does that truly reflect your heart today? You have considered the mighty fortress and turned away from the battle.
No doubt we would have ran away from Nineveh.
Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
And yet the whole city turned to God. Our God is able. We need not to turn back, but to tune into God’s promise.
God promised to put fear in the enemies’ hearts if Israel did certain things
We need to take note of what God required.
Word obeyed
Exodus 23:22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
Ways avoided
[24] thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Work enjoyed
[25] and ye shall serve the Lord your god, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and i will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
What will the Lord do?
[27] Iwill send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and Iwill make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
Is it not true that we have instead, disobeyed his voice, bowed to their gods and serve our own interests?
Lets look at verse two.
Joshua 6:2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
See, oh Joshua "I have given" [past tense] victory is promised.
Yes there are many mighty fortresses but we have his mighty promises we are on the victory side.
Luke 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
1 Cor. 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God says to Joshua, "see I have given" what an encouragement as they faced this mighty fortress. Perhaps we need to be reminded of something that the Lord would want us to see.
See what needs to be done.
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
See who can do it.
John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
See what can be done.
Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord
See that it is done.
1 Samuel 3:4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Oh how many would turn back when they consider the mighty walls of Jericho but the Lord is speaking to us all.
See here is your harvest field.
See here is your opportunity to serve me.
See what I can do.
We could turn back because of the mighty fortress.
2. The means that are foolish.
If Joshua set down with his generals what plan would they come up with?
Some might say letís get ladders and scale the walls.
Another might say no letís barge in through the gates.
Yet another might say no let’s dig underneath and we can tunnel through.
Yet another might say letís hold on and starve them out, like the siege of Derry
You can imagine the confusion and yet we understand that in a military campaign this would make sense that is, if we had nothing else to turn to.
What was Gods plans for victory?
Joshua 6:3-5 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. [4] And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. [5] And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
Did you ever hear of such foolishness, men would look at this and call it madness.
They would march around for six days leaving themselves open to attack, On the seventh day they would march around seven times and on the seventh time they would all shout and that was it.
Joshua relays these instructions to the priests, We discover that the armed men where to go first, then would follow seven priests with rams horns behind this was the Ark of the Covenant the symbol of Gods presence after this came the rest of the people.
Joshua 6:9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
What a foolish looking set up, How would this win any victory? Yes many turn back because of the means that are foolish.
The Lord has given us divinely appointed weapons of warfare.
2 Cor. 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) [5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
These weapons are foolish in manís eyes and sadly many Christians no longer value them.
The weapon of prayer thatís why the prayer meetings are so badly attended. Some Christians have turned away because of the foolish means that God uses.
The weapon of the word of God
Ephes. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Again Gods people will look for amusement and entertainment but not the word of God.
Letís consider this wonderful story, In the centre was the Ark of the Convenant upheld by the priests .We must, if we want to be victorious uplift Christ.
The trumpets would sound and as the people of Jericho would peer out they would hear the noise. Where is the noise coming from? From around the ark reminding us that our preaching must centre on Christ.
The rams horns remind us of the simple Gospel message we proclaim. This is foolishness to the world and sadly many of Gods people would discount the Gospel.
Let’s tell the world that He is the Lord of Glory, the King of Kings the Prince of Life, Creator and Upholder of the universe.
Let’s tell of his condescension and humiliation.
Let’s tell of his unique and holy life.
Let’s tell of his atoning death.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Letís tell of his resurrection, ascension and exhalation
Philip. 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Let’s tell of his coming again. Let’s tell of his salvation for sinful men.
What a Gospel we have!
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1 Cor. 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Yes good old-fashioned gospel preaching looked down upon by many Christians. May God help us to get back to doing what we do best Preaching Christ and him crucified.
1 Cor. 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Some may turn back because of - mighty fortress, means that are foolish,
3. The many failures.
Let us read some of the passage.
Day one -no result
Joshua 6:11 So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
Day two- no result.
Joshua 6:12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
Joshua’s determination was still the same, what an encourage he must have been.
Joshua 6:14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
Day by day nothing happened these means are not working.
Joshua 6:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
Thirteen times they had followed Godís instructions and still the wall looked the same, not as much as one stone had fallen. This is the cry of many today -
It’s not working.
It’s time to change the message.
It’s time to change the method.
Yes, many reasons why many may turn back, Praise God there was no turning back. The people trusted the Lord with that quiet confidence. God in his time will bless his ways if we follow his plans. We are assured of his presence and he will fulfil his promises.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Could I say this that day one to six were not failures because the people obeyed the Lord, they honoured the Lord and every day we honour the Lord is no failure.
Yes will you turn away, or turn up? Can we count on you? Can the Lord count on you?
The mighty fortress.
The means we use are foolish.
The many failings
How we thank God that they didnít turn away, but turned up, tuned into Gods promise and the walls came tumbling down.
I just want to finish by saying something about their-
4. Marvellous faith.
Because that is how the walls of Jericho came down-
Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Let us consider their faith for a moment.
Daring faith.
These men had faith to face the enemy they really knew their God.
Obedient faith.
They obeyed the word of God obedience is an essential element of faith.
Disciplined faith.
They kept silence in the ranks when they where told too.
Patient faith.
They waited on the Lord’s timing
Expectant faith.
They shouted before the walls had moved an inch [v16 ] they expected God to answer that cry of theirs.
Renunciating faith
Joshua 6:18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
Nothing for themselves this faith doesnít seek to exalt self-but exalts the Lord.
Victorious faith.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
[A.W. Pink- Gleanings from Joshua]
The walls fell down flat and they marched into Jericho. I am sure they were glad that they didnít turn back.
Don’t turn back, turn up and tune into Gods promises and the walls will come tumbling down.
