Remember that you fight from victory, not just for victory (Josh. 6:1–5)

The Christian soldier stands in a position of guaranteed victory because Jesus Christ has already defeated every spiritual enemy. Jesus defeated Satan not only in the wilderness, but also during His earthly ministry, on the cross, and in His resurrection and ascension. As He intercedes for His people in heaven, He helps us mature and accomplish His will; and “if God be for us, who can be against us?” We will now consider the factors involved in Joshua’s victory

I. The fear of the Lord (Josh. 6:1).

1. Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.

A. The land of Canaan was divided up.

These cities were not large, and each were ruled by a king. Ai, which was smaller than Jericho, had about 12,000 people. Excavations at Jericho indicate that the city covered perhaps eight acres and was protected by two high parallel walls, which stood about fifteen feet apart and surrounded the city.

It was the sight of cities like Jericho that convinced ten of the Jewish spies that Israel could never conquer the land.

B. Israel’s Victories

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. “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, NKJV).

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. The church is no longer “terrible as an army with banners” (Song 6:4, 10). In fact, 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.

II. The promise of the Lord (Josh 6:2)

2. And the LORD said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.

A. “I have given Jericho into your hand”

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; they believe the promises of God, because the Word of God generates faith in their hearts; and they obey what God tells them to do.

B. Christ has conquered the world, the flesh, and the devil.

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).

If we obey this truth, we can conquer through Him. It’s possible to believe a promise and still not obey the Lord. Believing a promise is like accepting a check, but obeying is like endorsing the check and cashing it.

III. The instructions of the Lord (Josh. 6:3–5).

3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”

A. The strategy was the Lord’s

No situation is too great for the Lord to handle, and no problem is too much for Him to solve. When He saw more than 5,000 hungry people before Him, Jesus asked Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” Then John adds, “But this He said to test him; for He Himself knew what He would do” (John 6:5–6, NKJV). God always knows what He will do. Our responsibility is to wait for Him to tell us all that we need to know and then obey it.

God’s plan for the conquest of Jericho was seemingly foolish, but it worked. God’s wisdom is far above ours and He delights in using people and plans that seem foolish to the world. Whether it’s Joshua with trumpets, Gideon with torches and pitchers, or David with his sling, God delights in using weakness and seeming foolishness to defeat His enemies and glorify His name.

B. God’s instructions were simple.

The armed men march around Jericho once a day for six days, followed by seven priests each blowing a trumpet. The priests carrying the ark of the Lord would come next, and the rear guard would complete the procession. The only noise permitted was the sound of the trumpets. On the seventh day the procession would march around the city seven times, the priests would give a long blast on the trumpets, and then the marchers would all shout. God would then cause the walls to fall down flat so that the soldiers could easily enter the city.

God’s people today can march in triumphal procession because of the victory of Jesus Christ over all the enemies of God. We should be living like victors, not victims. “The wall of the city shall fall down!” was God’s promise, and His promises never fail. God’s people don’t simply fight for victory but from victory, because the Lord has already won the battle. Obey what He tells you to do, and you shall have the victory.