Joshua 6 is a very exciting chapter where the walls of
Jericho fall! This is a chapter that teaches us that we conquer by faith! It is
by faith alone that we connect with the resources of God, the resources of
heaven to face the enemies in our life, to face the challenges, the obstacles,
the giants. Only by faith can we overcome! “And this is the victory that
overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4). In these first five verses of Joshua 5
we learn several lessons about conquering our Jericho’s by faith.
We can’t help but notice that the people of Jericho are in
fear of the nation of Israel. The news of Israel's Exodus from Egypt and their
recent victories east of the Jordan had already spread to Canaan and put the
people in panic (Josh. 2:9-11; see Deut. 2:25; 7:23; 11:25; 32:30). "I
will send My fear before you," God had promised; "I will cause
confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies
turn their backs to you" (Ex. 23:27).
It was said that Mary Queen of Scots feared John Knox's
prayers more than she feared an enemy army. But is society today afraid of what
God's people may do? Probably not, and it's mainly because the church hasn't
done very much to display the power of God to a skeptical world. Today it
appears that the church is so much like the world that the world takes little
notice of what we do. We imitate the world's methods; we cater to the world's
appetites; we solicit the world's approval; and we measure what we do according
to the world's standards. Is it any wonder that we don't gain the world's
respect?
But not so with Joshua and Israel! They were a conquering
people who made no compromise with the enemy but trusted God to give them the
victory. Theirs was a march of triumph that put the fear of God into the hearts
of the enemy.
In verse 2, we see that the victory had already been won!
All Joshua and his people had to do was claim the promise and obey the Lord. Victorious
Christians are people who know the promises of God, because they spend time
meditating on God's Word (1:8); they believe the promises of God because the
Word of God generates faith in their hearts (Rom. 10:17); and they reckon on
these promises and obey what God tells them to do. To "reckon" means
to count as true in your life what God says about you in His Word.
"Be of good cheer," Jesus told His disciples; "I
have overcome the world" (John 16:33). "And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal.
5:24). "Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this
world be cast out" (John 12:31). Christ has conquered the world, the
flesh, and the devil; and if we reckon on this truth, we can conquer through
Him. It's possible to believe a promise and still not reckon on it and obey the
Lord. Believing a promise is like accepting a check, but reckoning is like
endorsing the check and cashing it.
In verses 3-5, the LORD gave Joshua some simple
instructions on what they needed to do to conquer Jericho. “March around the
city one time a day for six days, and then on the seventh day march around the
city seven times, and on the last time, blow the trumpets, and everyone give a
loud shout. And you win!!!!” All Joshua and the people had to do was to be
obedient! If we are faithful and obedient in the little simple things, God will
miraculously take care of the big things!
Simple things like, read your Bible daily, pray daily, go
to church regularly, serve the Lord by being kind to others, being unselfish,
give to others, overcome evil with good, and so on. Very simple daily things,
like just walking around the big walls of the enemy and shouting the victory!
Then stand back and watch God work miracles in your life!
How are you responding to the daily “test of obedience” in
your life?
God bless!
