The walls of Jericho presented a formidable obstacle to God’s promise…”I have given you the land…” The Israelites could see them from the banks of the Jordan river…thick, high, and impenetrable. They had no equipment for a siege…no battle strategy…no trained soldiers…only a mob of runaway ex-slaves freshly out of forty years in the wilderness!
The process of crossing the Jordan, and finally setting up camp outside Jericho took weeks…maybe months…to complete…including building a memorial of stones in the middle of the Jordan river, circumcising all the second-generation male Israelites at Gilgal, and celebrating the Passover…
Then what? The one thing Joshua had at that moment was God’s authorisation and His promise.
“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:2-5 NIV
…but no strategy…and a formidable city blocking their way!
God’s equipment for the battle was strange…unusual…given to Joshua piece by piece.
THE PRINCIPLE
“I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—”
Joshua 1:3
The promise was still there, first given to Moses…now repeated to Joshua. He, Joshua, was to carry the authority given to Moses, to execute God’s plan but…he must first be equipped with God’s Word, deeply embedded in his soul.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:7-8 NIV
The principle is clear.
No one can accomplish a task given by God without first being absolutely confident of who gave the instruction and how that instruction is to be carried out. Prayer, for any reason, can only be true prayer if it stands firmly on the authority of the one to whom Joshua prays. His confidence must be firmly embedded in the word of the one who had commissioned him.
THE PRESENCE
Joshua stood outside Jericho, looking up at the walls. What was he thinking? “How on earth are we, a mob of ex-slaves, supposed to conquer this city?”
Before Joshua could embark on the formidable task of destroying Jericho, he had to know who was in charge. This was not his campaign. It was God’s campaign through Joshua and he must be sure of it.
On the eve of the attack, God met him in person…a man with a drawn sword. Who was the man? From where did he come? Why was he there?
“When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.”
Joshua 5:13-15 NLT
A shocking…a terrifying response…it was the Lord Himself…in person…to take charge…with a message and a reassurance. Just what Joshua needed!
“But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.”
Jesus, the Lord, had come Himself to lead the campaign. His presence guaranteed the outcome. He was already there!Unseen, but present, nothing could stand in His way.
That’s all the assurance Joshua needed. He could confidently give the instructions, knowing that, however bizarre they might sound in a situation like they faced, victory was sure.
THE PREPARATION
As we move through the stages of this battle to victory, the more we become aware that the battle they were about to engage in was more than natural. Soldiers don’t normally go to war with trumpets and shouts for weapons, and sure of victory before they even set out!
“Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns.”
What was that supposed to do? Why priests? Why the Ark? Why march around the city for six days? Why seven times on the seventh day?
It all sounds so crazy…until you view it from God’s perspective. Intimidating the enemy? Staking their claim to the city? Consolidating their faith in God? Believing the promise already given? Perhaps all of these things were formed in them as they marched. God needed time to settle their fears and arouse their expectations. This strategy was all about careful preparation.
THE PROCLAMATION
“On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can.”
The trumpet blast and the shout triggered the collapse of the walls. Why?
This shout was not about people yelling to make a noise. This was the specific way to welcome the arrival of a conquering king. The Israelites were to acknowledge the arrival of their Lord who had already assured them of victory. The walls simply collapsed at the presence of the commander of the Lord’s army.
THE PRIZE
“Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”
Joshua 6:2, 4-5 NLT
God and His people, working in obedience to His instructions and in tandem with Him, were a winning team. Everything happened just as He had promised. All they had to do was to was to finish what they had started together.
The principles in this story are clear. Whatever “walls” block the way to possession of your “territory”, the steps to answered prayer are the same.
God’s Word, in all the facets of its truth, must be the ground on which you stand.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7 NIV
This is God’s battle. You are not in charge. Jesus is “the commander of the Lord’s army”. He gives the strategy and the instructions. Ask Him for the word that the outcome promises.
“Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.” And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.””
Jeremiah 1:11-12 NLT
His presence is the fundamental fact in your enterprise. Without Him, you can do nothing.
““Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 NLT
Wait for Him to act. Time is the opportunity to build unwavering confidence in Him and His promise. Time is not delay but part of the strategy. “God will not answer your prayers until He has put all the structures in place to maintain that answer.”
Affirm His Lordship with the shout of victory. Welcome Him…He is there. He is present with His authority and power to demolish the walls of resistance. Declare the victory with confidence.
The prize is yours. You will see the “walls” collapse as He works out His victory over all the obstacles you have faced.