Joshua 6:1-5

¹Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. ²Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. ³March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. ⁴Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. ⁵When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

Just Call

With many competitions in the market, delivery services have become common costumer’s choice. Just call and pizza will be delivered to your door. Door-to-door delivery and many other forms of delivery services are competing for efficient service.
Actually, delivery service idea has been developed from the Bible. Not many Bible readers have noticed that God Himself has introduced a delivery service. One popular example is when God delivered Jericho into the hands of Joshua.

How did Joshua know that God has delivered Jericho into his hands? When the gates of Jericho were tightly closed, it implies that Jericho was prepared to be conquered.

1. Implication

¹Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Does it sound like the people of Jericho were scared of the presence of the Israelites? The gates of Jericho were closed and firmly secured. No one was allowed to go out. No one was allowed enter its gates. They were not taking any chances. They prepared themselves for possible attack even before a war was declared.
When Joshua sent 2 spies to Jericho, Rahab disclosed to them that a great fear had fallen among the people of Jericho so that their hearts were melting in fear. When the kings of the Canaanites heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River before the Israelites until they crossed over, their hearts melted in fear also. Melting in fear implies the possibility of defeat even before a battle or fight starts.

²Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.

The Lord confirmed to Joshua that Jericho including all its fighting men was ready to be taken over. Has Joshua had an idea that the warriors of Jericho could be mighty and well equipped? When there’s a possible doubt or non-compliance to His instruction, the Lord gives assurance and encouragement to His people.
Does the Lord’s assurance to Joshua have any application to our life as believers?

Anti-photo Radar Activist

Have you ever been issued a speeding ticket lately? What was your first reaction? Did you find it improper to be caught by photo radar?
Anti-photo radar activists mobilized Saturday to warn drivers across Edmonton of imminent radar trucks. The leader of a group which advocates for the abolishment of photo radars believes that photo radars are not effective in stopping crime. “The danger doesn’t necessarily come from the speeders,” he said.
Speeding violations are one of the many problems that can be avoided if a driver does what is right and proper. People may consider their driving behavior as proper, but the government decides proper driving behavior. Righteous acts should give the righteous person peace of mind, no matter what others may say, delightful or offensive.
The Bible assures us in Galatians 5:22-23, ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit serves also as practical assurance of God that our behavior is acceptable to Him. We expect blessing not worries as a result. The act of the flesh breeds behavior not acceptable to God, and that may have negative consequences.
The Lord said in Genesis 4:7, ⁷If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you…

Why were the people of Jericho so scared of the Israelites? What have they done? Their lifestyle was detestable to the Lord. The Lord Himself created fear in their hearts. There was fear in the hearts of the people of Jericho and the kings of the Canaanites after they heard what the Lord has done in favor of the Israelites.
It says in Deuteronomy 9:5-6, ⁵It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ⁶Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

The success of the Israelites depends upon the Lord’s decision not on their human effort. Similarly, do you agree that God blessed us not because of our effort, talent or experience but because we obey Him? The Lord’s blessing is included in His instruction.

2. Instruction

³March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. ⁴Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.

The Lord’s instruction to the Israelites was not conventional. Marching around the city once in six day and seven times on the 7th day is easier than trying to break down the walls and gates of Jericho, right? If the Israelites marched around the city seven times on the 7th day, and there’s still time to attack, then the city may not be vast and wide.
How many hours did the Israelites take to march seven times on the 7th day? Did they stop? Did they take a coffee break or eat their lunch? Was the city of Jericho flat terrain? They certainly did not walk slowly, why? The Lord’s instruction was for them to march, not walk leisurely, not even run. How far can you march briskly in one hour? Those questions were interesting but the Lord did not allow such details to be written.
The Israelites did not complain. They just obeyed the Lord. They did not find that marching around the city of enemies was funny or scary. Some Bible students suggest that marching around the city once in the first six days was just to warm them up or to keep their body and muscles prepared for the final attack.

⁵When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

Here is another example that there’s proper timing in the Lord’s instructions. They are actually very simple and easy to obey. The wall of Jericho and its gates were obstacles but like the Jordan River at flood stage, no hindrance is too hard for the Lord.
Sometimes, we cannot wait on God’s timing to obey. We consider all obstacles before we decide to obey or not. Our sinful mindset wants to discourse or logically argue every aspect of the Lord’s instructions.
We want to know all possible logical answers to our inquiries. Getting all possible answers is not the most significant factor in obeying the Lord, why?
Obedience to the Lord is a practical exhibit of faith.

The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law were far more intelligent that most of us if not all of us. They have constantly challenged the teaching of the Lord. The Lord Jesus presented a reality of the Day of Judgment but they did not and cannot believe in Him.
In Matthew 12:36-38, ³⁶I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” ³⁸ Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

They heard the Lord very clearly but they insisted on what they wanted. Actually, before the Lord mentioned about the Day of Judgment, He had just cured a demon-possessed man but they suspected that Jesus healed the man by the prince of demons.
The Lord’s wonders, miracles and signs can only be acknowledged by faith. Joshua and the Israelites did not worry about the walls, gates or warriors of Jericho. The Lord assured them that He has delivered Jericho into their hands.

What wall, gates or obstacles are you facing right now for you to receive the delivery of the Lord blessings into your hands? God has already given you a personal instruction. Pray for God’s timing and His confirmation of what step you need to take.
The Lord told the Israelites to march not walk leisurely. The Lord did not give Jericho immediately on the first day. It took them seven days of marching.
What is your marching order from the Lord?

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