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| JOSHUA AND JERICHO |
| Joshua 1:11 ~ Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for with three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it. After Moses death recorded in Deuteronomy, God gives Joshua the challenge to take over where Moses left off. Joshua demonstrated his faith in God by accepting this challenge to lead the nations. THE BOOK OF JOSHUA This book was written by it's namesake, Joshua, except for the ending which may have been written by the high priest, Phinehas, an eyewitness to the events recounted there. It's setting is Canaan, also called the PROMISED LAND, which occupied the same general territory as modern day Israel. The key people in this book are Joshua, Rahab, Achan, Phinehas, and Eleazar. FAITH OBEYS: God's commands are given for our benefit so that we might have the most abundant life possible. A person of faith, willingly obeys the commands of God, even when they don't seem to agree with the "right" way.....the way we think things should be done. We will look at the faith and obedience that Joshua and the Israelites demonstrated during the battle of Jericho, even though God's plans didn't make sense at the time. We can apply this to our own lives and determine if we are willing to walk by faith and obey God rather than by sight, following what we think is right. Josh 6: 1 ~ 21 The city of Jericho was built thousands of years before Joshua was born, it was one of the oldest cities in the world. In some places it had fortified walls up to 25 ft. high and 20 ft thick. Soldiers standing guard on top of the walls could see for miles. Jericho was a symbol of military power and strength.....the Canaanites considered it invincible. Israel would attack this city first and its destruction would put the fear of Israel into the heart of every person in Canaan. The Canaanites saw Israel's God as a nature god because he parted the Jordan and as a war god, because he defeated Sihon and Og. But the Canaanites did not consider a fortress god....one who could prevail against a walled city. The defeat of Jericho showed not only that Israel's, God was superior to the Canaanite gods, but also that he was invincible. God told Joshua that Jericho was already delivered into his hands......the enemy was already defeated! What confidence Joshua must have had as he went into battle! Christians also fight against a defeated enemy. Our enemy, Satan, has been defeated by Christ...Romans 8: 37 - 39. Although we still fight battles everyday and sin runs rampant in the world, we have the assurance, that the war has already been won. We do not have to be paralized by the power of a defeated enemy, we can overcome him through Christ's power. Why did God give Joshua all these complicated instructions for the battle? Several answers are possible: 1) God was making it undeniably clear that the battle would depend upon him, and not upon Israel's weapons and expertise. This is why priests carrying the ark, NOT SOLDIERS, led the Israelites into battle. 2) God's method of taking the city accentuated the terror already felt in Jericho. (seven priests marching carrying trumpets, Priests carrying the ark.) 3) This strange military maneuver was a test of the Israelites faith and their willingness to follow God completely. The blowing of the trumpets had a special significance. They had been instructed to blow the same trumpets used in the religious festivals in their battles to remind them that their victory would come from the Lord, not their own military might. There was a woman named Rahab, someone you wouldn't expect to be listed as a hero along with Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, Samson, Gideon and others. Here is a woman who lived a life of sin as a prostitute, but at just the right moment she obeyed God by faith and risked her life and was rewarded for being a herione. Rahab and her household were saved, because she had faith in God and because she helped the Israelite spies. The silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron were kept, not to enrich the people, but to beautify the Tabernacle and its services. God's purpose in all this was to keep the people's faith and religion uncontaminated. He did not want the plunder to remind Israel of Canaanite practices. God also wants us to be pure. He wants us to clean up our behavior when we begin a new life with Him. We must not let the desire for personal gain distract us from our spiritual purpose. We must also reject any objects that are reminders of a like of rebellion against God. Joshua urged the Israelites to continue to follow the Lord and worship him alone. The people had seen God deliver them from many enemies and miraculously provide for all their needs, but they were prone to wander from the Lord. Even though we may have experienced God at work in our lives, we too, must continually renew our commitment to obey him above all other authority and to worship him alone. There are many things about Joshua that have not been covered, it is an amazing story, those of you who haven't read this book, I encourage you to. It gives a great lesson in humility, faith and obedience against all odds. At the closing of this book, Joshua was dying and so he called all the leaders of the nation together to give them his final words, of encouragement and instruction. His whole message can be summarized in this verse "be faithful to the LORD your God." Joshua had been a living example of those words, and he wanted that to be his legacy. For what do you want to be remembered, and what do you want to pass on to your children and associates? You can leave them nothing better than the admonition to hold on to God and to the memory of a person who did. |
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| ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE As a child you may have played, Follow the leader all the way. Oft times the leader role was craved, Just to show your friends your are brave. The challenge was there for you to try, But often defeat would be your supply. Being a follower was alright, But being the brave one was a delight. As adults we have grown to learn Sometimes our leadership is spurned. There are those who always want the lead, When instead they needed to heed. The instructions of God have been in place, For all who will accept Him in the human race. Never abuse the trust you possess, And never settle for least than your best. But being a follower is important as well, Present your faith and try not to fail. There will be those who will criticize, Try to make you feel less in there eyes. God only asks that you do what you can To help spread the gospel to a fallen man. Heed the call of The Holy Spirit, Give unselfishly, as you strive to live it. We have walls in our lives that have to come down, The trials and struggles that around us abound. Keep you trust and faith in God above, He wil lead and guide you with His amazing love. Give your best to the master today, And you will be rewarded come judgement day. Never allow non believers to discourage But take up the cross and handle it with courage. The weapon that is always at our disposal, Was written and hallowed by all that composed it, Handed down a message from Almighty God. Instructions for a lifetime, a straight path to trod. WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY SHIRLEY BARR REFERENCES BY PERMISSION JANUARY 31, 2005 Joshua 24: 22 - 24 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yoursleves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. and they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods, which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. |
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| Music: MAJESTY ~ sequenced by New Songs on Line Used with persmission ~ |
