IMPENETRABLE? IT IS TIME TO TAKE YOUR JERICHO!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
God has promises for us. What hinders us from staking our claims? There is a great challenge before us. Victory can be ours, according to your faith?
Text: Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
2 Chronicles 16:9 (MSG) GOD is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help. Now you're in trouble—one round of war after another."
BLESSED ASSURANCE? WE MUST BELIEVE AND TRUST GOD HAS A PLAN. GOD WAS LEADING A HIS MAN AND GOD’S PEOPLE INTO A HOPELESS AND HELPLESS SITUATION…
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
JERICHO--- THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK… LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WALLS? HOW ABOUT THE MEAN, BARBARIC, CRUEL, TERRORISTIC PEOPLE THAT LIVED IN JERICHO?…
Jericho was built on a high hill. JERICHO WAS THE STRONGEST, MOST PREPARED AREA of the then known world. Jericho’s walls could not be penetrated by the strongest of the strong. Jericho could withstand any long siege that would come against it. There is no way Joshua and God’s people could take this STRONGHOLD DOWN. The King of Jericho had prepared his people and he was confident no power could conquer Jericho.
JERICHO BUILT TWO WALLS. Jericho knew Israel was coming. They were preparing for a long time. Not only were the walls well built theY were strong walls, stronger watchtowers and impenetrable gates. If the enemy could get over the first line of defense they were trapped in between the first wall and the second wall. The city was self-sufficient. ELISHA’S SPRING supplied all the water needed for a long siege. But there were many other wells and springs. In addition to that Jericho had a trained army and trained citizens to protect the water sources.
There was a very clear Divine Plan … Battle strategist would have probably suggested to bypass Jericho because Israel desired the hills of Canaan land. There was a mighty reason why not to bypass Jericho. If Jericho was not destroyed it set in A STRATEGIC POSITION… If Jericho was not defeated there would have been a WELL ARMED ENEMY behind the new nation of Israel. Know this, JERICHO HAD TO BE DEFEATED
even if the odds were impossible.
GOD FIRST… GOD NEVER SAID JOSHUA GO FIGHT JERICHO… GOD SAID: JOSHUA, I AM GOD, I GO BEFORE YOU. TRUST MY PLAN… JOSHUA FOLLOWED MOSES FOR YEARS, NOW THE ROD OF GOD TAUGHT JOSHUA TRUSTING GOD IS MORE THAN A WISH WELL.. JOSHUA KNEW
We have a tradition in this area at funerals. The Preacher follows the police car and is in front of the hearse and the family. This is symbolic of God first, God’s word, God’s man is first.
Joshua 6:4 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.
Joshua 6:6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.
Joshua 6:8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
Joshua 6:13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
Joshua obeyed the instructions of God… PLACE SEVEN PRIEST WITH SEVEN RAMS’ HORNS AND THEN FOLLOW BY THE ARK OF THE COVENANT which represented the PRESENCE OF THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC… THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE…
The sixth book of the Bible is the book of Joshua… the strongest city in the world was chosen to take first? Why not AI first the little weak town? Jericho was chosen to be the first battle the Israelites was to fight in the taking of Canaan.
The walls of Jericho were massive stone walls. The lower parts of the wall were at least 13 feet high with watchtowers around 28 feet tall. Then remember that there were inner walls 40 feet high. These walls were not only intended to protect the people, but Jericho had a great source of water both wells and springs. This source of water was in the middle of desert lands. So dry, thirsty human intruders often needed these sources of water. Jericho was READY to defend the water and the people!
The walls of Jericho were some of the earliest ways of using technology for military purposes. These walls were defensive. There were watchtowers had places called redoubt. Redoubt were small temporary fortifications on the outside of the larger walls.
WHEN JOSHUA INFORMED GOD’S PEOPLE WE ARE TAKING JERICHO, THE PEOPLE WERE PROBABLY LOOKING FOR LADDERS? HAND TO HAND COMBAT GEAR? The battle of Jericho never used any battering rams or engines of war. IT MAKES NO HUMAN SENSE.
WE MUST NEVER FORGET THIS WAS NOT JOSHUA’S BATTLE… THIS WAS NOT ISRAEL’S BATTLE… THIS IS GOD’S BATTLE… AND THIS WOULD BE GOD’S VICTORY… NO HUMAN COULD CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFEAT AND VICTORY OF JERICHO.
Joshua 6:1-27 describes the battle plan of Jericho. March one time around the wall for 6 days and on the 7th day march 7 times around. Then blow the trumpets and the shofars… AND THE PEOPLE WERE TO SHOUT.
THE SEVEN PRIEST WERE BLOWING THE TRUMPETS AND THE PEOPLE HAD TO MAINTAIN SILENCE? PONDER WHY? MAYBE TO STOP CRITICAL, NEGATIVE SPEAKING?
Joshua 6:10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
CONCLUSION: Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Jericho is mentioned in the New Testament to remind us: GOD CAN BE TRUSTED. IT IS HIGH TIME TO STEP UP AND STEP OVER OUR FEARS AND ALLOW GOD TO DEFEAT JERICHO. Let us look at the bottom line… JERICHO COULD NOT BE DEFEATED… Kind of like the UNSINKABLE TITANIC? Jericho could not be defeated --- UNTIL GOD, BUT GOD… God had a person that would declare VICTORY IS POSSIBLE. GOD HAD A MAN, JOSHUA that could see beyond the visible into the REALM OF GOD CAN. Joshua believed GOD’S strategic plan for a GREAT VICTORY --- GLORY FLOWS FROM THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD.
WHAT IS HINDERING THE GREAT WALLS IN FRONT OF YOU FROM FALLING? How about NEGATIVE FOCUSES? BITTERNESS? ANGER? FEAR? JUDGMENTALIST? A CRITICAL SPIRIT? NOT TRUSTING GOD’S PLAN?
We have a JERICHO in front of us… We have met GOLIATH’S MOUTH! Will the Jericho in front of us DRIVE us back into the wilderness? Will we bypass our Jericho and leave it behind us to come and haunt us the remainder of our days?
Our children and grandchildren need to see the PROMISE LAND and know JERICHO was nothing but fear and dread. Jericho is much more than about you. Jericho is about your leading others into the PROMISE LAND.
Joshua 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Joshua 1:6 (MSG) Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors.
WHAT NEGATIVE JERICHO ARE YOU FACING? The enemy has established strongholds in individuals and families… Are we facing defeat?
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Have the Ark of the Covenant and the priest and God’s word in the priority place of your heart. Sound the trumpet loud and clear… keep the negative mouth closed… RELEASE THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD … KEEP WALKING… THE WALLS WILL CRUMBLE AND GOD’S PEOPLE WALK TO VICTORY. WILL YOU WALK WITH ME INTO VICTORY? THE WALLS OF THE WORLD WILL CRUMBLE!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Encourage God’s people to trust in God’s plans. Pass it on?
