Joshua Chapter 6
We see chapter 6 begin with Jericho "securely shut up" in verse 1. In verse 2, God tells Joshua "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king and the mighty men of valor."
I cannot imagine standing in Joshua's shoes and seeing a city that is secure, shut tight. With stone and brick walls. No one was going in and no was coming out and then having the Lord say, "Look what I have done! It is yours!" It is almost an eye roll moment, isn't it? Or one of such incredulity that it makes me want to say in return, "Are you seeing what I am seeing?!"
But aren't our battles the same way? We know that Jesus has already overcome. We know that we are overcomers in Him. We have the Victory because He was victorious. Yet, when it comes to doing spiritual warfare, we say, "are you serious?" But really, God is saying to us, "See! I have given you victory in this situation." It may look hopeless and insurmountable. It may look impenetrable, but the victory is ours nonetheless. But, did Joshua and the Children of Israel defeat Jericho standing by the river? No. After telling Joshua that He had delivered all the mighty men and the king of Jericho into their hands, God then said, "You shall march." The children of Israel had something to do. God told them to march around the city one time each day for six days. No more and no less. The seventh day they were to do something different. They were to march around the city seven times. Did you know that the entire city of Jericho was only about a total of 9 acres in size? 9 acres is the equivalent of less than 1/4 of a square mile. It is definitely conceivable that Joshua and the Children of Israel could have marched around the city multiple times in one day. A history of Israel found here shows the walls of Jericho looked something like this:
The web site also goes on to say the walls were as high as the equivalent of a four story building. But, with the above design, it gave the impression of being ten stories high! Regardless of the impossibility the situation presented, God told Joshua exactly what was going to happen if Joshua and the Children of Israel were obedient to His instruction.
Unlike Joshua, we do not have an enemy we can see. Paul said,
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
It can be difficult for us, or at least for me, to remember that the battle is already won. God has already defeated His enemies and as a son or daughter of adoption, we have the same victory that comes with bearing His mark upon us.
1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (5) Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Paul told the Romans:
Sometimes we have things that occupy the space that is reserved for the promise of God in our lives. We have to be willing to give up something, even if it would make logical sense to keep it for use later. I can imagine the ox and other livestock would have been useful for the Children of Israel, but the Lord had already seen to the destruction of the city and all within it. The children of Israel just had to be obedient and willing to do what God said to do when He said to do it. The same is true for us. We have to be willing to take possession of what God has promised. He has already given us the victory. We just have to look at the situation in faith and believe that His word is true. His promises are true. He does not revoke gifts or calling (Romans 11:29).
What are you fighting today that God has already claimed victory over for you?
We see chapter 6 begin with Jericho "securely shut up" in verse 1. In verse 2, God tells Joshua "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king and the mighty men of valor."
I cannot imagine standing in Joshua's shoes and seeing a city that is secure, shut tight. With stone and brick walls. No one was going in and no was coming out and then having the Lord say, "Look what I have done! It is yours!" It is almost an eye roll moment, isn't it? Or one of such incredulity that it makes me want to say in return, "Are you seeing what I am seeing?!"
But aren't our battles the same way? We know that Jesus has already overcome. We know that we are overcomers in Him. We have the Victory because He was victorious. Yet, when it comes to doing spiritual warfare, we say, "are you serious?" But really, God is saying to us, "See! I have given you victory in this situation." It may look hopeless and insurmountable. It may look impenetrable, but the victory is ours nonetheless. But, did Joshua and the Children of Israel defeat Jericho standing by the river? No. After telling Joshua that He had delivered all the mighty men and the king of Jericho into their hands, God then said, "You shall march." The children of Israel had something to do. God told them to march around the city one time each day for six days. No more and no less. The seventh day they were to do something different. They were to march around the city seven times. Did you know that the entire city of Jericho was only about a total of 9 acres in size? 9 acres is the equivalent of less than 1/4 of a square mile. It is definitely conceivable that Joshua and the Children of Israel could have marched around the city multiple times in one day. A history of Israel found here shows the walls of Jericho looked something like this:
The web site also goes on to say the walls were as high as the equivalent of a four story building. But, with the above design, it gave the impression of being ten stories high! Regardless of the impossibility the situation presented, God told Joshua exactly what was going to happen if Joshua and the Children of Israel were obedient to His instruction.
Unlike Joshua, we do not have an enemy we can see. Paul said,
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
It can be difficult for us, or at least for me, to remember that the battle is already won. God has already defeated His enemies and as a son or daughter of adoption, we have the same victory that comes with bearing His mark upon us.
1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (5) Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Paul told the Romans:
Romans 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What is preventing you from taking possession of what God has already given you? He has already delivered you from the situation at hand, so why are you not victorious and joyful giving God a shout of praise?
In the face of what appeared outwardly to be an impossible task for the Children of Israel, God said, "I have already done it." He told Joshua to look at the victory before the fighting the battle. Joshua was able to lead the people in faith to a physical, supernatural, miraculous victory over the city of Jericho. In order to gain full victory and be completely obedient to what God said to do, they had to destroy everything, and everyone, that dwelt within the walls of the city. They spared Rahab and everything that was hers and her father's household, because that is what the spies swore they would do for her assistance. But, there was nothing else spared, not even livestock.
Sometimes we have things that occupy the space that is reserved for the promise of God in our lives. We have to be willing to give up something, even if it would make logical sense to keep it for use later. I can imagine the ox and other livestock would have been useful for the Children of Israel, but the Lord had already seen to the destruction of the city and all within it. The children of Israel just had to be obedient and willing to do what God said to do when He said to do it. The same is true for us. We have to be willing to take possession of what God has promised. He has already given us the victory. We just have to look at the situation in faith and believe that His word is true. His promises are true. He does not revoke gifts or calling (Romans 11:29).
What are you fighting today that God has already claimed victory over for you?
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