There it is,” exclaimed Joshua, “there is the land of milk and honey just as God promised.”
The Hebrews were bunched up around Joshua staring with wonder, and a bit of fright, not at the Promised Land, but at the large obstacle standing in the way. Jericho! To be fair it was not something that could be easily overlooked. There right in front of them just on the other side of river was a very large walled city. Two sets of walls with the inner wall much, much higher than the outer wall.
Standing up on the ramparts of both walls were many soldiers. All of whom appeared well armored. None appeared to be at all distressed concerning the vast numbers of Hebrews gathered on the other side of the Jordan River. In fact, the soldiers looked eager to go to battle.
“Uhh, ahem! Uh, Joshua what about that?” inquired one of the men standing next to Joshua and pointing a rather shaky finger towards Jericho.
“That? You mean the fort? What about it?” responded Joshua.
“Well, its kinda in the way don’t you think!”
“Is it? I hadn’t noticed.”
“You hadn’t noticed? Are you blind? That is a huge fort standing between us and our new home! How in the world could you not notice?” exclaimed the exasperated young man.
“I am not worried about the fort or the soldiers inside. Have you forgotten what God has done for us since we left Egypt? I have every confidence that God will deliver us as promised to our new home. Thus, I hadn’t noticed any obstacle in our way,” explained Joshua.
“That may be,” replied the young man, “However, how are we going to knock down those walls with just swords and spears?”
A slightly exasperated Joshua turned toward the young man and spoke, “We just spent years crossing the desert. During that entire time did you ever starve or go thirsty? No! Was the sun too hot during the day or were the nights too cold? Again, no! What about Pharoah’s army of tens of thousands of men and hundreds of chariots? Did they harm a single hair of your head or your mothers? Absolutely not! Do you think this little fort is going to be any hindrance to God?”
Chastened, the young man melted back into the crowd gathered around Joshua.
Turning to the crowd, Joshua began to explain how they will defeat Jericho. “This is what our Lord has told me. With our priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant and trumpeters leading the way all our soldiers will walk around the entire city. There will be no sound other than the trumpets. No one is to speak or shout at the soldiers on the walls. No one! We will march around the city once a day for the next six days. On the seventh day, we will walk around the city seven times. At the conclusion of the seventh time around the priests will blow their trumpets long and loud. On the final blast all the soldiers will shout. It will be at that time the Lord will tear down all the walls of Jericho.”
All at once dozens if not hundreds of people began to shout. Looks of consternation, surprise and befuddlement could be seen on many faces. Exclamations of “are you kidding me?” could be heard along with laughter and many versions of a snort or sigh was also heard.
In short, far too many people expressed disbelief in the plan and the expectation of a fallen city without any bloodshed.
Raising his voice above all the hubbub, Joshua simply stated, “The Lord has spoken and we will do exactly as he said. At the end of the seven days Jericho will fall. No more arguments, no more questions. Prepare yourself.”
After a couple of hours the priests lifted up the Ark onto their shoulders and began to cross the Jordan River. Leading out were seven priests blowing on their Rams horn trumpets. They were followed by Joshua and all the soldiers. The remainder of the multitude of Hebrews stood along the banks of the river. They watched apprehensively as the men began to circle the city.
Meanwhile, up on the ramparts of the city walls the soldiers of Jericho stood and watched incredulously as Hebrew soldiers marched silently around the city.
“Captain,” shouted a soldier, “are you seeing this? What in the world are they doing?”
“What does it look like? It’s a bunch of lemmings getting ready to fall off the cliff.” The Captain responded to gales of laughter.
It took a few hours for the priests and soldiers to walk around the city. At the conclusion of the walk they all returned to the camp and silently at their meal and laid down to rest.
The following day Joshua marshaled his troops and the process of walking around the city began again. On the walls above the soldiers of Jericho looked on with much humor.
The next day the soldiers, priests and Joshua trudged around the city.
“Yo! Captain! They are doing it again.” shouted the stupified soldier up on the ramparts.
“So what,” replied the Captain. “Let them walk. It keeps them occupied and provides less time to shoot arrows at you. Now quit bothering me!”
For three more days the same scenario played out. The Hebrews marched around the city and the guards on the ramparts looked on amazed and confused.
On the seventh day, the Hebrew camp awoke with a sense of purpose and anticipation. Today, was the last day. Today, Joshua had said, the walls of Jericho were to fall. Would Joshua be correct that God will tear down the walls? Would we actually see Him do that, they wondered?
Soon the priests, soldiers and Joshua assembled and crossed the river. The rest of the multitude of Hebrews quickly lined up along the river in nervous excitement.
Along the walls of the city it was quickly apparent the soldiers of Jericho were now completely bored by the activities of the Hebrews. It appeared that only the days watchstanders stood along the ramparts.
After an hour or so, the priests had completed their circuit of the city and began to march once more around the city. Soon, Joshua and the soldiers followed.
The soldiers along the walls of Jericho silently watched the Hebrews. No apparent excitement or worry was noted.
When the priests began their third circuit of the city there was a noticeable shift in the soldiers attention up on the walls of Jericho.
“Ah, Captain?” a soldier could be faintly inquiring of his superior.
“What is it now, Smith?” the irritated Captain asked.
“Is this normal?” the soldier asked.
“What is normal? The fact that you are bothering me? Yeah, that’s normal,” responded the Captain.
“Yes, sir... I mean, no sir. What I mean is they are doing it again.”
“Who is doing it again?”
“The Hebrews. They are marching around the city.”
“So, they have been doing it all week.”
“Well, yes. No. I mean yes sir, they have been doing it all week. But they just started going around the city for the third time to day,” explained the confused soldier.
“Muster the troops! Now!” shouted the Captain.
The Hebrews soon completed their third silent trek around the city. Along the walls more and more troops could be seen.
Then the Hebrews started their fourth trip. Their trumpets ringing along the walls while the Hebrew soldiers remained silent.
Then the fifth trip. Trumpets blaring, yet the soldiers still very quiet.
Then they began their sixth trip. Thousands of soldiers now crowded the ramparts. All of whom nervously watched the procession of Hebrews circling silently around their city. All you could hear were the trumpets of the priests.
Finally, the seventh trip. Along the banks of the Jordan the multitude of Hebrews excitedly stood with great anticipation and wonder on their faces. Along the ramparts looks of concern could be seen on the soldiers faces. They knew something was going to happen. But, what they did not know.
Suddenly, the horns of the priests sounded especially loud. Then a great shout was heard from thousands of Hebrew soldiers.
From Jericho came a rumbling. The walls began to shake. The soldiers faces expressed alarm and many began to run. But, it was too late. The walls of Jericho were crumbling.
Jericho. We all have heard some or all of the story of the Hebrews crossing the Sinai and finally reaching the goal of crossing the Jordan only to be confronted with this massive fortress inhibiting their ability to enter the land of milk and honey. To many of those wishing to cross the river, it was just one to many obstacles that had crossed their paths over the past decades. How many realized that this might just be a final test of their faith? Possibly very few?
What about Joshua? The Bible tells us he was a stalwart man of faith. His trust in God was absolute. After all, who did God put in charge of the Hebrews after Moses passed away? Joshua was humbled by God’s choice of him as the leader of the Hebrews, but God reassured Joshua that he, God, would be with him every step of the way.
Yet, what did Joshua think when he came to the Jordan and saw Jericho for the first time? Did he have doubts? Did he wonder was it really possible that slings, arrows, swords and spears could really take this fortress?
Joshua may not have gone to West Point for his military education, but he knew he needed more information about this fortress. He sent two spies into the town. You may remember the story of Rahab who protected the spies and helped them escape. Her only condition was that they ensure her and her family would be saved when the town was destroyed. The Hebrews may have concerns about their success in taking this massive fortress, but Rahab did not!
So, what was so scary about Jericho? It sat at the crossroads of two major roads into Palestine. Therefore, you could not enter Palestine without confronting this fortress. Secondly, it sat on a bluff over 400 ft above the river. Attacking it meant climbing up the bluff. No easy task when the enemy was behind protected walls and shooting arrows downhill. Third, there were two massive walls to breech before entering the town. The first wall was six feet thick and 20 ft high. The second wall was separated from the first by 50 yards of clear ground and was 30 ft high and twelve feet thick. Finally, along each of the walls were towers that looked down on the ramparts allowing the soldiers to shoot their arrows and throw theirs spears on any enemy that managed to climb up the walls. In total, the fortress and city occupied an area approximately one square mile of land.
Yep, a difficult obstacle indeed!
So, there is Joshua contemplating the obstacle. One night, he decided to take a walk along the river by himself. He wanted to think unhindered. He needed to find a solution to overcome this obstacle. Despite his best efforts he recognizes he cannot come up with the solution to breech the walls of the city. Obviously, he must also have been praying. Why do I say that he must have been praying? Look at Joshua 5:13.
Now it happened that while Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and much to his amazement, he saw a man standing in front of him, holding a drawn sword in his hand! Joshua approached him and asked him, "Are you one of us, or are you with our enemies?"
Jos 5:14 "Neither," he answered. "I have come as commander of the LORD's Army." Joshua immediately fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, saying to him, "Lord, what do you have for your servant by way of command?"
Jos 5:15The commander of the LORD's Army replied to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you're standing is holy." So Joshua did so.
In the midst of his dilemma the Lord sends him the solution to his problem. The Commander of the Lord’s Army visits him that night. He tells Joshua how he was to conquer Jericho. He also tells him what he is to do with all the inhabitants once the walls fall down.
How did Joshua respond to the unique solution the Lord provided? He accepted the Lord’s plan without question or murmur. He immediately returned to camp and told the people what they were to do. He stepped out in faith and made sure that God’s plan was fulfilled.
The people of Israel had a problem. God provided a solution.
The people of Israel were given a promise. Their new home was to be a land of milk and honey. A promise from God. One that he was going to fulfill. Yet, in order to see the promise fulfilled, the people had to step out in faith to overcome one last obstacle. A very big obstacle.
Joshua had the faith. The people....well, the people were lacking a bit in that department.
The amazing thing was that God promised the victory before one shot was ever fired. He let Joshua know what the conclusion to the battle would be before it ever began.
There is so many lessons wee can take from this story, but I would like to focus on just a few today.
1) Joshua was in quandary about how to get past Jericho. He knew that every inch of land on the other side of the Jordan was promised to them by God. Yet, standing in the way is Jericho. How, he wondered were he and the people to get around that.
Well, he had been told by God that he was to meditate every day in the morning and night so that he would always know what God had planned. God also told him he was to follow the guidelines established by Moses and not deviate from them.
Turn with me to Joshua 1:1After Moses, the servant of the LORD, had died, the LORD spoke to Nun's son Joshua, announcing to him,
Jos 1:2"My servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross the Jordan River—you and all the people—to the land that I'm giving the Israelis.
Jos 1:3I'm giving you every place where the sole of your foot falls, just as I promised Moses.
Jos 1:4 Your territorial border will extend from the wilderness to the Lebanon Mountains, from the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—as far as the Mediterranean Sea where the sun sets.
Jos 1:5 No one will be victorious against you for the rest of your life. I'll be with you just like I was with Moses—I'll neither fail you nor abandon you.
Jos 1:6 "Be strong and courageous, because you'll be leading this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors.
Jos 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous to ensure that you obey all the instructions that my servant Moses gave you—turn neither to the right nor to the left from it—so that you may succeed wherever you go.
Jos 1:8 This set of instructions is not to cease being a part of your conversations. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that's written in it, for then you'll prosper and succeed.
Jos 1:9 "I've commanded you, haven't I? Be strong and courageous. Don't be fearful or discouraged, because the LORD your God is with you wherever.
Joshua was appointed to the position of leader by God. He knew the land across the Jordan was being given to the Hebrews by God. He knew that God would ensure their safety and that his help was promised. Joshua remained faithful to the Lord and communed with him daily.
He may have felt inadequate to hold the position he was given, but he obeyed and trusted in God.
We have been given a task by our Lord and Saviour. One that most of us know by heart: Matthew 28: 18 - 20. Many of us feel like we are inadequate to the task. Reasons are many:
“I don’t know how to give Bible Study’s”
“I cannot speak well enough”
“I can’t teach” or “I cannot preach”
However, like Joshua was told, Christ tells us “I will be with you, always.” That means not only does he have our safety in mind, he will also equip us to accomplish the task required of us.
2) Despite his trust in God, Joshua was still concerned about the ability of the Hebrews to take Jericho. After all, it was a massive and strong fortress. Not to mention it sat over 400 ft above the river. Was it a mountain too far and too high for the Hebrews?
Joshua consciously or unconsciously was limiting God’s power. It took the Captain of the Lord’s Host to set Joshua straight.
All to often we do the same thing. We forget that the Bible tells us that through God, “all things are possible.”
Jeremiah 32:17 tells us nothing is too hard for God
Psalm 66:3 tells us how awesome are God’s deeds.
We should never limit the power of God. Instead we should step aside and let God work with us and through us at all times.
3) Joshua was disciplined.
I have mentioned that Joshua felt inadequate for the job given to him. I also mentioned that he did not think the Hebrews could take Jericho.
What I would like to emphasize is despite the lack of confidence in his abilities, Joshua was very confident in the Lord’s abilities. That confidence came from the discipline he established with his prayer life.
Joshua maintained a daily communication with God. He prayed multiple times daily with God. He set aside time each day to pray. Not only that, he spent that time away from the crowd so that nothing would interrupt his time with God.
Just like Moses.
Just like Daniel.
Just like Jesus.
Something we should all practice.
4) Joshua remained faithful.
Despite the pressure of the crowd. Despite the formidable obstacle of a fortress. Joshua remained steadfast in his belief and trust in God.
Joshua did not know how the spears and arrows of his army could overcome the massive walls of Jericho. He did not know how his army could succeed against the confident army manning the ramparts of Jericho. He did however, know that God would give them the victory.
Like the Hebrews and Joshua of yesteryear we face obstacles too. Many unfortunately, are of our own making. But no matter where the obstacles originate how do we respond?
Do we respond like the Hebrews who only saw defeat? Or like Joshua who because of his steadfast faith and trust in God, saw only victory through God?
