The Walls of Jericho

Joshua 6

Introduction

This morning we are continuing our series of lessons from the book of Joshua.

This series is not necessarily focused on the primary lessons of each passage in Joshua, but on what we can learn about leadership from these texts.

That will be our focus this morning as we look at this very familiar story of the Walls of Jericho.

Faithful Inaction

God gave instructions that required great restraint (Josh. 6:1-10).

He often gave such instructions (Ex. 14:13-14; Lev. 10:6-7; 1 Sam 13:8).

There remain times where we must refrain from acting (1 Cor. 9:1; Matt. 10:14; Gen. 4:6-7; Matt. 6:34).

“The urge to ‘do something’ often leads to doing something worse than nothing.” - Thomas Sowell

“When we overprotect children, we harm them. Overprotection has several harmful effects: it causes children to approach the world with more fear and less confidence, it deprives them of the thousands of small challenges, risks, and adversities they need to encounter to become strong and resilient adults, and it distorts their understanding of themselves and the world.” - Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Faithful in Form

The people were delivered through ritual (Josh. 6:11-20).

God often uses ritual to bring about deliverance (Ex. 12:28; 2 Kgs. 5:14; Gen. 17:13-14).

We need to teach both the form and the meaning (Rom. 2:25-29; Num. 20:8; 1 Cor 11:27-29).

Faithful in Victory

God called for self-control in victory (Josh 6:21-27).

Victory is often the time when people forget God (2 Chron. 32:24-25; Jdg. 2:11-13; Deut. 8:11-14)

This can be true of churches too (Rev. 3:17; 2:2; cf. 1 Cor. 13:2).

Conclusion

We need faithful leaders to make it their constant aim to do what pleases God whether that is decisive action or…decisive inaction.

If you’re here this morning an you’re not a Christian, then this is time for action. And there is a ritual. And it is packed with meaning of heavenly realities.

If you know all about that and are ready to make that commitment, we plead with you to do so today. But if you want to know more about that, then we’d be delighted to sit and study with you more.

In any case, if you need our help this morning in drawing near to the one who gives victory, then come.