May 11, 2010
The fall of Jericho.
God used such improbable means to accomplish the destruction of Jericho. Who would have ever thought that marching around the city one time and blowing horns for six days, then marching around the city seven times on the seventh day, blowing horns and then shouting, would cause the walls to fall? But it did! God uses ways and means that defy human wisdom and logic. It is then that He and only He can get the glory for what He has done. Notice what had to happen after the walls fell, and after God had done his part. The Israelites had to go in and take the city. Everyone was to be destroyed except for Rahab and her family. They were also instructed not to take any of the plunder for themselves because it belonged to God.
You wonder how the Israelites felt marching around the city one time each day for six days. Was there anyone saying, "What is the point of this?" Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem to make no logical sense. We have experienced this first hand. We had to put our feet in the water at flood stage, but God in HIS wisdom has totally protected us.
Trust God. Give Him the space to lead, and then follow!
Side note: Joshua 6:26 - "...don't try to rebuild what God has destroyed!" I Kings 16:34 shows what happened when they disobeyed and tried to rebuild Jericho. What God says will happen—WILL happen!!
Addendum: 11/12/13 ~ The LORD—He is the One.
The Israelites crossed the Jordan on the dry ground God provided because of their obedience to God. Joshua, because he was obedient to God's commands, circumcises all the men in the group. God sustained the Isrealites the entire time they were in the desert by providing manna from heaven but now they "no longer got the manna from heaven." Now, because of their obedience, they eat the food from the land that God promised them. And now, because of Joshua's obedience, God is preparing them to face the first battle.
Joshua is standing near Jericho when "he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in his hand." Joshua went to him and asked, "Are you a friend or an enemy?" And the man answered, "I am neither. I have come as the commander of the LORD's army."
The LORD—He is the One.
God is a God of details. He is in control. He has a plan and it will be accomplished. It is not by our power or by our might, but by my Spirit saith the Lord. We tell the story of how the men marched around Jericho for seven days, but let's not miss or forget the most important part of the story. Were they doing this in their own power? No. The LORD was marching around the walls step by step with them. They were following the Ark of the Agreement. They were following the LORD! HE was the One leading the way. It was HIS presence that caused the walls to fall. It was the Israelite's obedience that "allowed" God to fulfill His promises. And the walls fell.
It wasn't about their power and might—it was about HIS. It wasn't their battle—it was HIS. The spoils of the battle weren't theirs—the spoils belonged to HIM. They were to keep nothing for themselves. Why? Because it wasn't about them.
"The storm" we are in isn't about us. It was and is ALL about HIM. God is faithful. His promises are true. Our responsibility is to believe, surrender, trust, and obey.
The LORD—He is the One!
Next Entry: Joshua 7:1–26
The fall of Jericho.
God used such improbable means to accomplish the destruction of Jericho. Who would have ever thought that marching around the city one time and blowing horns for six days, then marching around the city seven times on the seventh day, blowing horns and then shouting, would cause the walls to fall? But it did! God uses ways and means that defy human wisdom and logic. It is then that He and only He can get the glory for what He has done. Notice what had to happen after the walls fell, and after God had done his part. The Israelites had to go in and take the city. Everyone was to be destroyed except for Rahab and her family. They were also instructed not to take any of the plunder for themselves because it belonged to God.
You wonder how the Israelites felt marching around the city one time each day for six days. Was there anyone saying, "What is the point of this?" Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem to make no logical sense. We have experienced this first hand. We had to put our feet in the water at flood stage, but God in HIS wisdom has totally protected us.
Trust God. Give Him the space to lead, and then follow!
Side note: Joshua 6:26 - "...don't try to rebuild what God has destroyed!" I Kings 16:34 shows what happened when they disobeyed and tried to rebuild Jericho. What God says will happen—WILL happen!!
Addendum: 11/12/13 ~ The LORD—He is the One.
The Israelites crossed the Jordan on the dry ground God provided because of their obedience to God. Joshua, because he was obedient to God's commands, circumcises all the men in the group. God sustained the Isrealites the entire time they were in the desert by providing manna from heaven but now they "no longer got the manna from heaven." Now, because of their obedience, they eat the food from the land that God promised them. And now, because of Joshua's obedience, God is preparing them to face the first battle.
Joshua is standing near Jericho when "he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in his hand." Joshua went to him and asked, "Are you a friend or an enemy?" And the man answered, "I am neither. I have come as the commander of the LORD's army."
The LORD—He is the One.
God is a God of details. He is in control. He has a plan and it will be accomplished. It is not by our power or by our might, but by my Spirit saith the Lord. We tell the story of how the men marched around Jericho for seven days, but let's not miss or forget the most important part of the story. Were they doing this in their own power? No. The LORD was marching around the walls step by step with them. They were following the Ark of the Agreement. They were following the LORD! HE was the One leading the way. It was HIS presence that caused the walls to fall. It was the Israelite's obedience that "allowed" God to fulfill His promises. And the walls fell.
It wasn't about their power and might—it was about HIS. It wasn't their battle—it was HIS. The spoils of the battle weren't theirs—the spoils belonged to HIM. They were to keep nothing for themselves. Why? Because it wasn't about them.
"The storm" we are in isn't about us. It was and is ALL about HIM. God is faithful. His promises are true. Our responsibility is to believe, surrender, trust, and obey.
The LORD—He is the One!
Next Entry: Joshua 7:1–26
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