There are times when what God tells us to do just doesn’t make sense. It has been this way ever since man first walked on the face of the earth. For example, Adam and Eve were told not to eat the fruit from the tree in the center of the garden. This just seemed unreasonable to them. Not only did the fruit look appetizing the idea of it being able to increase knowledge was quite attractive. So since God did not seem to makes sense they chose to disobey. Then we see just the opposite in Noah. He just did not get the big picture about God asking him to build 300 foot boat in his backyard. Although God did not make sense Noah obeyed and was saved. Samson could not understand why God told him not to cut his hair. He reasoned that it would not make any difference if a got a new look, so he disobeyed. Samson’s disobedience led to his undoing. By nature we are a people that find it extremely difficult to be submissive. We do not like being told what to do especially when what we are being told sounds completely irrational. When God’s commands do not make sense our faith is really put to the test. It is during these times that it can really be seen if Jesus is the Lord of our lives. The story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho is a powerful example of what can happen when people are willing to obey God, even when His commands do not make any sense.
I. Joshua and a battle strategy that did not make sense.
A. The inhabitants of Jericho were paralyzed by fear of the Israelites and of Israel’s invincible God.
1. After being nomads for forty years because of their disobedience the people seemed ready to obey God unconditionally.
2. In the person of the captain of Yahweh’s host the Lord assured Joshua that “I have given Jericho into your hands.” The king of the city and all his valiant warriors would fall into Joshua’s hands.
3. God always has a better plan. The fall of Jericho would be an act of faith (Hebrews 11:30) as well as an act of God. What a relief those words must have been to Joshua (6:2).
4. God graciously gave Israel the land, but they must make it theirs by obeying faithfully.
B. The people were armed and ready for battle; they had been training the last forty years for this day.
1. God’s instructions to Joshua about the taking of Jericho contain no reference to military strategy but rather indicate that it is essentially to be a ritual ceremony. God’s words consist of an encouraging assurance to Joshua (verse 2), instructions for Israel’s part in the episode (verses 3–5a), and a statement about the amazing results.
2. The ritual nature of the episode is suggested by the absence of any military strategy, by the blowing of the trumpets, by the prominence of the priests and the Ark of the Covenant, by the solemn processionals, and by the prevalence of the number “seven,” which occurs four times in verse 4 alone and fourteen times in the chapter. “Seven” is the number of totality, completion, and perfection in the Scriptures.
3. The plan was simple. The Israelite army was to march around the walls of Jericho every day for six days. Seven priests carrying ram’s horn trumpets were to escort the ark in that procession. On the seventh day the Israelite troops were to march seven times around the walls.
4. Then the priests were to blow their trumpets, and the people were to shout with a great shout. At that moment, God promised, the walls would “fall down flat.” At whatever point in the procession an Israelite soldier might find himself, he would be able to move straight ahead into the city. The protective walls of Jericho would virtually melt away.
C. Obedience to this command required a submissive, humble, trusting spirit.
1. The Israelites began their march around the walls. Given the known size of ancient Jericho—about thirteen acres—a trip around the walls would have only taken about an hour.
2. The Israelites probably felt silly marching around the city and probably looked silly to the citizens of Jericho.
3. We don’t know how God did it, but we do know that when the people shouted and the trumpets blew the walls collapsed and the Israelites marched right in.
4. The humble Israelites were obedient even though God’s instructions seemed unreasonable, and their obedience resulted in victory.
II. Examples of commands that can seem unreasonable that we are required to obey by faith.
A. We are commanded to put our faith in Christ for salvation, not our good works which is contrary to all human reason.
1. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9—NIV)
2. This is the “good” of “good news.” We are not saved by works of our own righteousness (which would always turn out to be too few), but by the sacrifice of the righteous Jesus Christ.
3. Human logic reasons that since God is a just God, He will judge us using the same criteria as Santa Claus, whether we were naughty or nice.
4. We are instructed that the way to heaven is through faith in what Christ did for us on the cross.
5. Faith is the response of sinners to the Savior which appropriates God’s gift to themselves. Faith by no means “earns” salvation (since it is “by grace”); nor does it make the sinner “worthy” of grace. Faith is “the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to him as Lord and Savior.”
6. Even our own responses, such as repenting, believing in Jesus, and being baptized would not be possible unless God had invited us to do so
7. When men do try to work their way into God’s favor, one of two things will happen. Sincere, honest men will despair of ever succeeding; smug, ignorant men will boast.
8. Paul addresses the second situation, showing that God’s way of salvation eliminates human boasting.
B. If someone hurts us God commands us not to retaliate.
1. We are commanded not to get back at people by injuring them, insulting them or refusing to speak to them.
2. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:39—NIV)
3. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:19-20—NIV)
4. God has a reason for commanding us not to take revenge because we do not have the capability of fairly administering justice.
5. When you dish out revenge, you wound yourself. Hatred and bitterness eat away at your well-being, kindness releases anger and is good for you.
C. We are commanded to love one another including those that seem to be unlovable.
1. Anyone can love those who love them, the beautiful, the intelligent, and the sophisticated but God commands us to love everyone.
2. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34—NIV)
3. Often this command is difficult to obey but it reflects the way Christ as treated us.
III. Lessons we can learn from Joshua’s experience.
A. The Lord gives us instructions, not because He is this big cosmic bully, but because He knows what is best for us.
1. The reason the Lord gives us commands is so that we can have the most fulfilling life possible.
2. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3—NIV)
3. The kind of love that God expects from us is an obedient love.
B. All of God’s commands have a purpose and we will not always understand.
1. Our information and intelligence is limited this keeps us from fully being able to comprehend God’s rationale.
2. Sometimes God’s commands take us through pain and struggle and we cannot possibly understand at that moment that the trial is for our personal growth.
3. The more we dig into the Scriptures and spend time with God, the better we will understand God’s ways.
4. Sometimes the sins of our culture have become so commonplace that our spiritual vision is impaired.
C. God’s commands may seem irrational to you, but it is imperative that by faith you obey anyway.
1. The storms of life and the accepted values of our culture can get us so turned around that we lose our Spiritual balance.
2. When God’s commands seem illogical or irrational we often tend to follow our feelings to decide what is right.
3. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12—NIV)
4. There’s a bumper sticker that should typify every Christian’s attitude. “God said it; I believe it, that settles it.”
In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery.
“Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”
“I understand,” said Henry. “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”
“Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.”
When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.”
When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us, and when he returns, we’ll rule together with him.
