Still Faithful pt5

Still Faithful pt5

Joshua 6

The story of Joshua and Jericho is another one that we tell to children. We march them around and have them yell because it is fun and a Bible story they can learn by acting out. Nothing wrong with that at all. But I sometimes think in making it a kids story, we miss what God did and what it means for us.

See, if you have not figured it out yet, I believe the verse that says all scripture is God breathed and profitable for us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All of it. And that includes stories like this one, that seem like a scene from a fantasy movie, rather than something that really happened, and reveals truth about God.

So this morning, as we look at this passage, stop thinking about it like a fantastical story, and think about it as what it is- a true, historical story about how God flexes in the ridiculous and what that says to us.

So, some background. Moses is dead. Joshua is the new leader, and his task is to lead the people to possess the land of Canaan, as God has promised. And God is going to have them start, not with the easiest part, which would make sense, but the hardest part. The seemingly impregnable and invulnerable fortress city of Jericho.

The Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land Jericho

One of the oldest fortified cities in the ancient Near East, long identified with Tell es-Sultan, 6 miles north of the Dead Sea, about 750 feet below sea level. The plentiful supply of water from nearby Ain es-Sultan turned Jericho into an oasis, and indeed the Bible once refers to it as the ‘city of palm trees’. Tell es-Sultan rises 65 feet above the surrounding plain and occupies an area of 10 acres.

The Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land Jericho

The settlement occupied an area of 10 acres and was surrounded by a wall, preserved in one section to a height of 17 feet. On the west a round tower 25 feet in diameter was built; this is still preserved to a height of 23 feet. A flight of steps led from the city into this massive tower. These are the earliest fortifications of the city of the 8th millennium BC.

Joshua, Judges & Ruth Commentary

Why not just bypass Jericho, since Israel’s objective was the hill country itself? The answer lies in Jericho’s strategic position. Jericho guarded the lower entrances to two important passes into the very heart of the hill country. Bypassing it would have left a well-armed enemy at Israel’s back; Jericho had to be conquered.

Why in the world? Wouldn’t it be better to work their way up? To take out some small cities and weak peoples first, and have the pilgrims work up their skills and become a formidable force first and then at their peak take on the Jericho juggernaut?

Sure, if the expectation is for the army of the Lord to do the work themselves. That is not God’s plan.

See God is the author of this campaign. He is the one leading the battle. If the people think they can do this themselves, then they have already lost and they will ultimately become like the people they are conquering- people who think don’t need God. If they can rely on their own abilities to get this done, they will rely on their own abilities to keep Canaan. And God is not interested in a people who trust themselves. He wants them to trust Him. So He devises the most unorthodox strategy in the history of war- a parade

(Read vs 2-5)

So did you catch that. The leaders of the parade are not warriors and commanders- they are priests. The men of war are not to attack. They are to parade and remain silent. There will be no sneak attack. They will be right out in the open. And they will not do anything for 6 days but march silently around the city.

And they will bring the Ark with them.

The Ark is the physical representation of the presence of God. He is with them.

So let’s stop here for a moment. What is our place in this?

1. God doesn’t do things our way- far too often we want to make a plan and then ask God to bless it. We want to be in charge of strategy- and at the heart of that is minimizing risk and prioritizing self preservation. That’s not in the economy of God

2. When God calls us to do something that seems radical or unorthodox, we want a say in the plan. We want to poke holes in what He calls us to do. To tell Him how it is supposed to be done (talk about starting the church- the advice vs the calling)

3. What this ultimately comes down to is “Who do you trust?”- and God is telling the Israelites something very important here- if you do not trust me, you will not possess my promise- I will give it to someone else- and He has already done this once (Numbers 14:20-35) God has unlimited time

What God also has is a vision of the future you don’t have- He would not allow Moses to do this, but Joshua will do it…so He waited for Joshua

Sometimes God will wait for the right leader before moving…and that’s because He knows the hearts of men…but when He gives you the instruction-no matter how crazy- He knows you are the right person for the job

(read vs 6-14)

1. Instant obedience- Joshua hears and goes

2. Total trust- they do not deviate from the plan

3. Perfect patience- they do not rush the steps

(Go back to vs 2, then read 15-21)

Here is one other crucial truth for us, when God calls us to the seemingly crazy path- the victory is already assured, you need only obey to seize it

God says, before He even gives them the instructions- He has “given” them the city. It is His gift to them. All they need to do to seize it is obey.

Joshua (1) Instructions for Taking Jericho (6:1–7)

The outcome of the entire affair is announced to Joshua at the outset: God had already given Jericho, its king, and its warriors into Joshua’s hand (v. 2). Thus, the extensive marching, blowing of trumpets, and shouting that the Israelites were to engage in is shown to be essentially ceremonial because God was giving the victory. This is reinforced by the comment at the end of v. 5, where God stated clearly that the wall would collapse through no effort on the people’s part beyond the ceremonial actions just mentioned.

Joshua (1) Instructions for Taking Jericho (6:1–7)

God’s instructions to Joshua about the taking of Jericho contain no reference to military strategy but rather indicate that it is essentially to be a ritual ceremony. God’s words consist of an encouraging assurance to Joshua (v. 2), instructions for Israel’s part in the episode (vv. 3–5a), and a statement about the amazing results (v. 5b).

The ritual nature of the episode is suggested by the absence of any military strategy, by the blowing of the trumpets, by the prominence of the priests and the ark of the covenant, by the solemn processionals, and by the prevalence of the number “seven,” which occurs four times in v. 4 alone and fourteen times in the chapter. “Seven” is the number of totality, completion, and perfection in the Scriptures; and its predominance in this chapter emphasizes the completeness of Yahweh’s victory on Israel’s behalf

That is the hard part for us. We are often not willing to obey and walk out the STEPS to get the gift. We want it NOW. And in a sensible fashion.

But that is the key. God is giving us the gift. He dictates the terms and He is patient. And in giving us the path He is teaching us something- He is reliable. (talk about the vision that God has given me for WMCC and how after 16 years I still believe we have something left to accomplish…and it is bigger than what we can see right now)

And here is the deal…I think part of that dream involves you…and we may be waiting for some of us to embrace the crazy that God has called us to in order to accomplish His purpose for us

What is God calling you to do that is crazy? What do you keep trying to plan around or get ahead or dictate God’s strategy on?

When will you pick up your horn and get to walking?