Strange Ways to Deal with Obstacles
Notes
Transcript
Background to passage: Just coming over from the crossing of the Jordan River in flood stage, after reconsecration by circumcision, the Israelites moved up to the edge of Jericho. This will be the first challenge for taking the promised land. Jericho will the example, the pattern, the most detailed of the capture of a city, and used over and over throughout the rest of scripture in this fashion.
1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.
2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.
3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.
4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
5 And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.”
7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”
8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them.
9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.
10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.”
11 So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.
12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually.
14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.
15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.
17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.
19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.”
20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.
21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.
Opening illustration: Consider a chess game, where the pieces on the board represent different elements of a battle. Now, think of yourself as one of the pawns. From the perspective of a single pawn, the battle seems overwhelming and complex, with knights, bishops, and rooks all around. You may feel insignificant and powerless, unsure of how you can possibly make a difference in the grand scheme of things.
But imagine that this game is being played by a Grandmaster, someone who sees the entire board, anticipates every move, and knows exactly how to navigate to victory. The Grandmaster moves each piece with precision, knowing that even the smallest pawn can play a crucial role in the larger strategy. The victory of the game doesn't depend on the pawn's understanding of each move; it depends on the skill and foresight of the Grandmaster.
This is much like our own lives and battles. God is the Grandmaster of our lives, seeing the full picture and having the ultimate strategy for victory. Just as the pawn trusts the Grandmaster to guide its moves, we must trust that "The Battle is The Lord's." He has already seen the outcome and assured us victory if we follow His lead.
Main thought: Four truths about obstacles in life.
1) The Battle is The Lord’s (v. 2)
1) The Battle is The Lord’s (v. 2)
2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.
1) The Battle is The Lord’s (v. 2)
1) The Battle is The Lord’s (v. 2)
Explanation: The realization, reception, actualization of the promised land would require the expulsion of various groups of people who already lived in the land. A nomadic people with no place of their own, only an army and God who goes before, alongside, and behind them. They had no fortified cities to run back to, store caches of weapons in, house stalls of reserve horses and chariots. It seems like a great mismatch. One thing to note is that the language is past tense. God speaks as though he has already given Joshua the city. He had. The fight was his.
46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
Illustration: St. Patrick who was raised in Scotland, kidnapped by Irish raiders, lived for years as a slave for pagans, escaped back to Scotland, then was called back to his pagan captors to win them to Christ.
“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down.”
-St. Patrick
Application: Every city to be conquered in life is conquered by the Lord. The Lord orchestrates all things in life for your good. He has all power and wisdom. He is good and kind. The Lord gives and he takes away. Every good gift comes from Him. Every mountain can be made flat and every sea parted. God does what he pleases, and will aid you in every battle you face. He will never leave you, nor forsake his children. He will fight for you.
We must build up in our minds a robust theology of who God truly is. Without this, we more easily forget his abilities and character, and lack his peace. We must preach to ourselves these truths, sing these truths. We must encourage one another with this rock-solid, strength-sustaining, battle-enduring God. We must forsake doubt and deflect the attacks of the evil one that tells us that God will not…God is not…God has not…, because sometimes the victory does not come the way we think it should. Sometimes, we may realize that we have to give up control, because it is His battle. He actually can do it better. He will also get more glory when He fights for us.
2) The Faith is the People’s (v. 6-7)
2) The Faith is the People’s (v. 6-7)
6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.”
7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”
2) The Faith is the People’s (v. 6-7)
2) The Faith is the People’s (v. 6-7)
Explanation: God just told Joshua that he has given the city to them, told them this crazy new warfare tactic (which was not really a warfare tactic), and Joshua did not argue, question, doubt, reason, but turned to the priest and the army and told them what to do. Why? He believed God. The people lined up. Why? They believed God. Believer, followers of Christ are supposed to live lives of faith.
26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?
20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Illustration: Jacob was a schemer. I am a schemer. When things go wrong in life, my typical response is to look around at all the resources I can access. It is to look at the logical possibilities. It is to try to figure out a way within things I can manipulate. I got called out on it a couple of months back.
Robert and Mary Moffat, 1820, Botswana, 54 years in Africa, future father-in-law of David Livingstone,
Finally the directors of their mission board began to question the wisdom of continuing the work. The thought of leaving their post, however, brought great grief to this devoted couple, for they felt sure that God was in their labors, and that they would see people turn to Christ in due season. They stayed; and for a year or two longer, darkness reigned. Then one day a friend in England sent word to the Moffats that she wanted to mail them a gift and asked what they would like. Trusting that in time the Lord would bless their work, Mrs. Moffat replied, “Send us a communion set; I am sure it will soon be needed.”
Application: This is not saving faith, but relational faith. This is not “name it, claim it” faith, but trusting faith. You don’t force God’s hand, he invites you to join him. We believe and join, or rely on other things and withdraw (or sometimes push ahead in our own strength, which is worse).
When God leads you by his word, his Holy Spirit, his church, do you believe that he will keep his promises? I mean do you really believe? When you operate within a ministry team, are you the one that is only looking back, operating forward, making decisions upon what is numerically possible now? When you speak to others is it founded on human hope or on biblical confidence hope?
Do you hit the floor first when obstacles come in your life, knowing that God has formed a pathway for you to walk into? Do we run around thinking and acting like the sky is falling, or believe that it is the opportunity for God to work? This Refocus process understands the needs and reality of our situation, but we must put our faith in God, not in the process. We may formulate a plan, but we better cultivate our faith, lest we fit into the “you of little faith” group.
3) The Obedience is the People’s (v. 13-16)
3) The Obedience is the People’s (v. 13-16)
13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually.
14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.
15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.
3) The Obedience is the People’s (v. 13-16)
3) The Obedience is the People’s (v. 13-16)
Explanation: The flip side of the coin of faith is obedience. Obedience is typically the evidence of faith that lies underneath. The tactic that God gave probably caused a little hesitation for taking a city. March around six days, then on the seventh day seven times, trumpet and shout and it all falls flat. “One shot to the reactor and it all blows up.” -Cassian Andor. Did they believe enough to walk around the city once a day in silence like idiots?
The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The two are opposite sides of the same coin. - A. W. Tozer
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Illustration: Let’s say that you know that you are supposed to witness and share the gospel. You know and believe that Christ will be with you. You know and believe that the Holy Spirit will give you the words in the same hour that you need them. God provides a divine appointment for you and impresses upon you to share. Do you do it? Talked to a young man this week who likes a young woman. He has been seeing her for a long time. He wants to marry her. He has a ring, sent me a picture, has it hidden in a special place. Has a plan of when he would like to ask her to be his bride, but what if he never does?
Application: To know the will of God for you life, to believe that God can and will do it, but never to act upon that belief, short-circuits the blessings. If you have obstacles in your life that you know Jesus can conquer, but you never proceed with faith, you lack to faith and courage.
What is it in your life that you need to proceed forward with that you have been hesitant to act upon? Lots of excuses, justifications, doubts, but no obedience. Remember, these instructions and required obedience was corporate. So, what about us? What open doors are we hesitant about? What budget will we put out? What ministries will we launch? What part in ministry at WHBC do you need to be faithful to so that “we” are obedient?
4) The Spoils are The Lord’s (v. 17-19)
4) The Spoils are The Lord’s (v. 17-19)
17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.
19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.”
4) The Spoils are The Lord’s (v. 17-19)
4) The Spoils are The Lord’s (v. 17-19)
Explanation: There are two principles in play here: 1) the Lord owns it all, and 2) the faithfulness of his people in the future is at stake. God tells them that everything must be devoted to him and destroyed. Only Rahab and the gold/silver/iron were saved. This command will come into play next week, just make a note today. These items were set apart to the Lord as an offering. These are His firstfruits offering. The Lord gets the credit and the glory first. The time will come later for God to give the spoils to his people.
16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes,
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Illustration: Dedication of the first lobster each year. A job that causes you to compromise values or priorities or commitments
Application: We are to honor the Lord first will all our possessions and resources. We give from the first, not from the leftover. You give in proportion to what you make, not what you have leftover. God will provide for them. Meat, bread, victory, crossing the Jordan, spies unnoticed, and he will continue until the next place. Same applies to us. Are you giving from your first fruits? God will supply your needs. If you are keeping everything you have, you are not exhibiting faith or obedience. You are robbing God and blessings from your own lives.
However, the far more important matter here is the influence of ungodly things from your life. The cultural embrace that we have of worldliness is spiritual suicide. The culture values pluralism, evolution, abortion, intersectionality, hatred, not so with us. It values sexual gratification within any context, rewards laziness, incentivises debt, lusts over power, glorifies wealth at any cost, forsakes the poor and powerless, ignores the widows and orphans.
When we take that in, it hardens our hearts toward the things of God. It squelches the work of sanctification. It breeds hypocrisy. Things that we watch, listen to, friends that we hang around, news that we expose ourselves to. God is drawing you to him, to joy, to peace, to satisfaction, but we are led away by our own lusts.
Closing illustration: Imagine a small town situated near a powerful, intimidating mountain. For generations, the townspeople have tried to climb the mountain to reach a mystical source of eternal water said to lie at its peak. Many have attempted the journey, but all have fallen short, returning defeated or not returning at all. The mountain stands as a symbol of insurmountable challenge and fear.
One day, a humble shepherd boy, guided by an unwavering faith in the stories of his ancestors, decides to approach the mountain. Unlike the others before him, he doesn’t rely on advanced climbing gear or strategies developed by experts. Instead, he starts by patiently walking around the base of the mountain, each day praying and seeking guidance from God.
After seven days of faithfully circling the mountain, following a path that seemed illogical and unproductive to onlookers, a miraculous thing happens. The mountain begins to tremble and, piece by piece, it crumbles, revealing a hidden pathway to the peak. The townspeople are astounded.
The boy, with a heart full of thanks, climbs the now accessible path and finds the source of eternal water. He descends and shares the abundant water with the entire town, bringing life and renewal to all.
GOSPEL
