During the Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached a sermon titled The Cross-over Miracle (7). Her text was taken from the Book of Joshua chapters 5:13-15, 6:1-27; and Hebrews 11:29-34.

The battle of Jericho is the first conquest of the Israelites in the Promised Land. God was totally in charge of this battle. He gave the strategy and the victory. The destruction of Jericho was a miracle. This is one definition of a miracle: It is a supernatural, surprising, and welcome event that it is not explicable by natural or scientific laws, and it considered a work of God. There are 126 miracles in the Bible. Something that was impossible for man, God made it possible.  

The defeat and destruction of Jericho was counted as first fruits unto God. No man ‘gained’ anything materially from it. Their only gain was spiritual. Their faith increased knowing that God Almighty is with them. God used this victory to exalt Joshua as the leader who listens and obeys God. His fame spread in the land. Another spiritual gain was that Rahab, and her family, were saved from the destruction of Jericho. They became Israeli citizens. Rahab married Salmon, a leader from the tribe of Judah. She is in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Joshua decided to attack Jericho and the city of Ai. These two cities were at the center of the Promised Land. Joshua planned that after occupying the center (Joshua chapters 6 to 9), then he will go to the south (chapter 10) and finally, he will conquer the north side (chapter 11). Lesson: This strategy is classic in military warfare even now. It was the same strategy that was used in the first and second world wars.   

For the Israelites, this battle was yet another big step away from slavery and toward freedom. For Joshua, this was his first victory as the new, official leader of God’s people. For Jericho, this was the judgment of God on their wickedness and idolatry.

THE COMMANDER OF GOD’S ARMY – I HAVE JUST ARRIVED!

“And then this, while Joshua was there near Jericho: He looked up and saw right in front of him a man standing, holding his drawn sword. Joshua stepped up to him and said, “Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies’?” He said, “Neither. I’m commander of God’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, “What orders does my Master have for his servant?” God’s army commander ordered Joshua, “Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did it” (Joshua 5:13-15; TM).

We see here the encounter between Jesus, The Commander of God’s army, and Joshua. This story is a reminder that in Christ, by grace, heaven touches earth and miracles happen! ‘Joshua was there near Jericho…’ Joshua was an experienced soldier. He was looking at Jericho, his next challenge. He was not afraid. Like Nehemiah, he went alone to see the problem and think of how to solve it (Neh 2:11, 12). Joshua must have been praying for God to reveal to him the strategy for victory. A leader must face the trials of life alone with God before he addresses men. Joshua knows from the spies that Jericho is surrounded by double walls, high and thick. If the Israel soldiers decided to manufacture some ladders and climb the walls, it was possible to take over the city. But many will be killed in the process. Joshua knew that he needed God!

 Suddenly, Joshua sees a Man dressed like a soldier. It was the Lord Jesus Christ, but Joshua did not recognize Him at first. Joshua asks this ‘stranger’: are you for us or for our enemies? He knows that there are only two kingdoms on earth: the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of the devil. Joshua does not ‘chat’ with the Man. Right now, he needs faith, wisdom, and strength. There is no time for pleasantries. The Man tells Joshua that He is not on the side of any man. Why? Because He is Jesus, the Heavenly Commander, and The true Captain of our salvation! The sword in His hand is ‘the double-edged sword of the Word of God’ (Heb 4:12). Jesus is in control of the encounter. The Word of God is leading! Joshua is not His leader or His ‘mate’. Joshua is His servant and follower. Christ is here seen as a Man of War. He is standing before Jericho ready to attack. He is not weak or confused. He is sure of the victory. He says: “I have just arrived!” The Commander tells Joshua God’s plan and strategy how to defeat Jericho. Immediately Joshua bows down at the feet of His Commander. He immediately moves from worship to total obedience. Yes, Sir!

Joshua falls at His feet and worships. This is the position of faith and total surrender. For forty years Joshua served God thru Moses. He was faithful to his human master. But now, Joshua sees Jesus, face to face. Like John, he sees Jesus and falls at His feet like a dead man. “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last” (Rev 1:17). The Commander accepts Joshua’s worship. This is a proof that He was our Lord, Jesus Christ. Total surrender and worshipping Jesus leads always to strength to obey Him. From this moment on, Joshua fears nothing. Christ takes permanent residence in His heart. Joshua can say with Paul: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). Down at Your feet Oh, Lord, is the most high place!

Humbled, trembling, with the face to the ground, Joshua prays: “What orders does my Master have for his servant?” The Commander tells Joshua to remove his shoes for he stands on holy ground. This is the same command Jehovah said to his mentor, Moses (Exodus 3:5). Every place where the Lord reveals Himself becomes a holy ground, a special place of sanctified memory. Jesus commands Joshua to take off his sandals. This is enemy territory. This is Canaan land. Yet God claims it for Himself! We tend to argue with God. But we see that ‘Joshua did it’. Joshua does not grumble or ask questions. He obeys every command of his leader. Joshua is a humble man. He obeys his Commander. This is the secret of his success. In the Old Testament the priests ministered to God with bare feet in the tabernacle. It was a sign of honor and intimacy. It is also an acknowledgement that before God and His Word we are all naked. “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:13). This encounter redirects and clarifies Joshua’s vision. He takes his eyes from Jericho and now sees Jesus! He is now sure of victory!

Joshua goes to tell the people that the Lord Jesus appeared to Him. It was easy for Joshua to believe in Jesus because he saw Him face to face. It was harder for the people because they needed to believe the words of Joshua even when they did not see Jesus. But they chose to trust Joshua’s word. That was already a great victory! Jesus said to Thomas: “Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (Jn 20:29).     

Lessons: Christ is not a servant in the church. Christ is the Head of the Church! (Col 1:18). Revelation leads to worship, faith, and obedience! Even leaders are under authority! Even leaders must be led. Blessed is the leader who is truly called and commissioned by Jesus! How important it is to be sure that God has saved your soul and has called you to any capacity to serve Him in His house. This assurance is even more necessary to the leaders in the church! Once you see Jesus, your problem does not seem so big anymore. That is the look of faith and victory!

The Commander of the armies of heaven reveals to Joshua God’s strategy for defeating Jericho. God loves to lead thru strange methods that seem foolish to the world. Nobody could invent a crazier method than to go round a city and expect its walls to fall flat. God’s plan is totally different than any plan made by man. No army general would have thought of it. But Joshua totally submits and obeys His leader. He speaks to his commanders and to the priests. They tell the people that God has spoken to Joshua, and they must all obey. In one accord, they all agree to obey. This is a great picture of submission, faith, and unity of the Spirit between God, the human leaders, and the people. There is great power in this unity. In the history of Israel, during the time of Moses, or the kings and the prophets, there was always rebellion in their midst. But now, under Joshua, things are different. The plan sounds crazy, but none rebels against it. With one accord, they chose to obey.

Lesson: Spiritually, this is the picture of an ideal church experiencing revival. From worship, to submission, to obedience, and to victory!

This is another example of God’s stranger battle plans: Gideon was called by God to fight and conquer the Midianites (Judges 6 and 7). Gideon called men to take up their arms. 32,000 men came ready to fight. God told him that these people are too many. Eventually Gideon reduced the number of the soldiers to 300. God used these people to gain the victory. Gideon tells the people: “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, ‘The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” (Jdg 7:17, 18). What a strange strategy? Why does God do that? Because God hates when men get proud because of their wisdom and power, and then take the glory for the success. He reduces man’s strength until man can boast no more.

Since this encounter between Jesus and Joshua, it was easy for the people of Israel to obey God’s laws concerning warfare. They knew and believed that in each battle, The Heavenly Commander leads the way and gives them the victory. Their wars were more religious than proving their military skill. Listen to God’s warfare law: “When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you” (Deut 20:1-4).

Many have such encounters with God but not all use them well. For example, Balaam met with God, but he did not obey Him (Num22:9). His life ended in tragedy. Jacob fought with the Angel of God, who was also the Lord Jesus. He did not let go until Jesus blessed him. At the end of that struggle, Jacob is wounded physically, but blessed spiritually (Gen 32:22-32). Lesson: All who see Jesus are never the same again!

JERICHO IS CURSED BY GOD

The reason why God decreed the destruction of Jericho was no political. It was religious and spiritual. “When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so, the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire” (Deut 7:1-5). “When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you and serve you. Now if the city will not make peace with you, but war against you, then you shall besiege it. And when the Lord your God delivers it into your hands, you shall strike every male in it with the edge of the sword. But the women, the little ones, the livestock, and all that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall plunder for yourself; and you shall eat the enemies’ plunder which the Lord your God gives you. Thus, you shall do to all the cities which are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations. “But of the cities of these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive, but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you, lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God” (Deut 20:10-18).

The reason why God commanded His people to destroy all idols in the Promised Land, not to intermarry with the Canaanites and even to kill them it is because God wanted them to be spiritually pure. Idolatry corrupts and pollutes. God wants His people to be sanctified and holy, for He is holy. God hates sin especially idolatry and rebellion. It was God who destroyed the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. All people died in that fire. But God helped Lot and his family to escape His judgment because they were people of His covenant. God warned Israel that if they follow the customs of the Canaanites and serve their gods, they too will perish. This is a most serious warning. “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” (Deut 28:15). Obedience to God’s Word results in blessings. Disobedience ends in cursing. Joshua warned God’s people not to take anything from Jericho because it is cursed. He said: “And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it” (Josh 6:18). Later Joshua told them: “If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good” (Josh 24:20). This is a reminder that God is holy! God is merciful but God punishes sin! Never take His grace for granted!

Joshua placed a curse upon Jericho. This curse was not upon all people in general who later lived in Jericho. The curse was upon anyone who builds the mighty walls in defiance against God. During the time of wicked King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, a man rebuilt the fortress of Jericho. The curse Joshua placed on it many centuries ago came to pass. “In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun” (1 Kings 16:34). This curse was removed much later when the citizens of Jericho humbled themselves and asked prophet Elisha to bless the city. “Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So, they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke” (2 Kings 2:19-22). Selah!

GOD’S STRATEGY

Jericho was an ancient city. It was the first city that was built purely for military purposes. The meaning of name Jericho is ‘The City of the Moon’. The ruins of the ancient Jericho are still visible in Israel. There were two parallel walls. The outer wall was 6 feet thick. The inner wall was 12 feet thick. The height of the walls was at least 13 feet high (4 meters). They had watchtowers of about 28 feet tall. The people of Jericho are all terrified of Israel and their God in the Ark. Lesson: the unbelievers fear any true born-again believer!

The people of Jericho are completely terrified inside their city. They shut themselves in. No man comes in or out. Their strategy was to stay inside hoping the Israel will leave them alone. But God has already declared that Jericho must be destroyed. The commander of the God’s army has revealed to Joshua the strategy. If they obey His plan, God has assured them of victory. “And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor” (Josh 6:2). The words ‘I have given’ are in the past tense. The victory is sure. Joshua, the commanders, the priests, and all the people believe God’s promise.

The fear of the Canaanites was prophesied long ago. God told Moses: “I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you” (Ex 23:27-33).

In the Promised Land there were many little kingdoms ruled by their kings. These kingdoms depended on the greater power of Egypt. But Egypt was in economic decline and was not interested in helping the Canaanites. We also see that these little kings were not united. They did not help one another until it was too late. In this way, it was easy for Israel to conquer them and take their land.

With two million Israelites next to him, the King of Jericho ordered that the city gates be permanently closed. But his strategy failed to protect his people. When God shut the door in Noah’s ark, it was for his protection. The unbelievers and the raging waters could not break it. But when men shut the door against God, God will destroy the whole city.  Jesus said: “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” (Rev 3:7). The gate that was shut could not protect them from the God of heaven and earth. This is what happened on the 7^th day: “the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat” (Josh 6:20). The ram’s horns gave the signal. The people shouted a loud shout. Suddenly, the walls of the city fell down flat. In other words, the collapsed and went bellow the ground. They are buried in the ground until this day. For Israel, the journey of faith was long and hard, but the victory was instant. This was a miracle. The key to it was faith in God’s command. The weapons used to win the victory were walking and shouting! They had faith that the word of the Commander of the armies of heaven who spoke to Joshua! That word was inside the Ark. When the trumpets sounded a long sound of victory, by faith, all the people shouted unto God with a voice of triumph.

God’s strategy is most unusual. From silence to shout! The people needed faith in God’s Word, and in God’s plan, to win the victory. This is God’s plan for the battle against Jericho: As it was during the Crossing-over Jordan, the Ark of God, representing God’s presence or God’s Word shall lead the way. The Ark is the most important item that God’s people have. The Ark of God shall be carried by 4 priests. In front of the Ark there will be seven priests holding the trumpets made of ram’s horns. In front of the priests and behind the Ark, there shall be the soldiers. All the armed men of Israel follow the Ark. Behind them, the people will follow. It is possible that not all the people became part of the entourage. They were more than two million, including women and children. I suppose that there were male representatives from each tribe, but together they made a great envoy. The exercise was more religious than military. Jericho was built on a hill. The area of the ancient city of Jericho is about 9 acres. Considering the fact that the area was hilly, with stones, and in the heat of the desert, it took about 30 minutes for the people to go around it once. On the seventh day they went round and round for 7 hours without stopping. This was a true test of their faith and endurance.

Every day for the next six days, the people shall go round Jericho, once a day. All people shall walk in silence. There shall be no arguments between them. Generally, in the military, the leader encourages his soldiers with strong words. The followers respond with words of courage. These words of battle cry may be spoken or expressed as songs. The effect is that all of soldiers become stronger and ready for the battle. But here, God commanded all people to keep silent. The only sound heard for the next six days was the trumpets of the priests and the peoples’ feet marching on the ground. The silence of men and the sound of the trumpets is a sign that God is in charge and not man. The people of Jericho should know that Jehovah is patient with sinners but not forever. They should repent and surrender. If not, they will perish.  

At the end of this daily exercise, the people are to go back to the camp at Gilgal. On the seventh day, the same people will go round Jericho seven times. This makes a total of 13 rounds about Jericho. At the end of the 13^th round, Joshua gives the signal. The priests will blow their trumpets with a long sound and the people will shout with a great shout. That is when the walls of Jericho collapsed. The armed men go in and kill everyone in the city, including the animals. The only one to be spared will be Rahab the prostitute and her family who will be found in her house. The city shall be dedicated to God. No man can take anything from it. The expensive things like silver and gold shall be put into God’s treasury. Joshua warns his people that if anyone takes anything from the city, that person shall be cursed, and all of the nation will suffer.

I just imagine that the people of Jericho were afraid at the beginning when they saw the Ark and the people. But after a day or too, they relaxed and saw this ritual as entertainment. They were mocking them from the top of the walls. It was not easy for God’s people to walk daily in silence and not respond to the mockery. But this is what faith does. After two or three days, as God’s people march confidently and silently around the walls, a strange fear gripped the people of Jericho. Lesson: Faith is focused and obeys God’s Word even when it is uncomfortable.   

What was the purpose of God’s strategy? It was a test of faith! God tested His people if they trust His Word. As strange as this plan was, there is no rebellion in the camp. Everyone decided to trust God’s Word in Joshua’s mouth. To the glory of God, the people passed the test of faith.

JERICHO, CURSED TO MAN BUT THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE PROMISED LAND UNTO GOD

The destruction of Jericho is seen as the firstfruits offerings of the Promised Land. No man should touch that! It belongs to God! This is the principle of first fruits: God commands that Israel brings to Him an offering called ‘the first fruits’. “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it” (Lev 23: 9-11). Firstfruits symbolized the consecration of the whole harvest to God. Christ is the first fruit unto God. “Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:20). Christ in us, the hope of glory, is our offering of the firstfruits to God. “We also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit…eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Rom 8:19). Spiritually, the fruit which the Spirit produces in us provides hope that we will be like Christ, that we will be glorified and realize our inheritance in the kingdom to come. Because Christ was raised from the dead, all believers will be raised to be with Christ  

GOD AND WAR

Many people have problems accepting the fact that God told His people to kill the inhabitants of the Promised Land and take over their land. They say that the God of the Old Testament is harsh, but Jesus, the God of the New Testament is kind. They say that God is not merciful for killing so many people. With our natural minds, we can’t totally understand God and His ways, but this we know: God is sovereign. He has created all people. He has the right to give life and to kill anyone He chooses. God saw that the Canaanites were unrepentant sinners. It was God’s will for them to die. God chose the people of Israel to be His battle axe. The truth is that if God sent an angel to kill all the people, nobody will complain!

At the same time, it is not easy for us to accept the fact that there are wars in this world and many people suffer and die in battle. This is the truth: when sin entered the human race, death came with it. God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told him that disobedience will result in death. God gave him a choice, to obey and live or disobey and die. Adam and Eve chose to disobey God’s command. That is how death entered humanity. People die of sickness, of accidents, during wars or famine, and lastly, they die of old age. Sin brought not only death but much suffering with it. We accept these facts by faith. We do not understand the deep things of God, but we understand what is revealed to us in His Word. These are some revelations that we receive by faith: God is one! Not two Gods! Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament, who commanded His people to kill the unbelievers and take over their land, is the same as Jesus Christ, in the New Testament! Jehovah may seem harsh, and Jesus may seem soft, but these are not two Gods! They are one! This is God’s Word: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One” (Deut 6:4). Jesus said: “I and My Father are one” (Jn 10:30). This is the doctrine of the Trinity!

 The second revelation we accept by faith is that God cares for His creation. God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man, to live among men, to suffer with them and finally, to die for them. Thru His death on the Cross, Jesus saved sinners. Salvation is found in Christ alone. This is the Gospel, God’s good news to save those who believe in Christ crucified and resurrected. When Jesus came to earth as a Man, he lived among sinners. This was the greatest sacrifice of love, for God’s Son to become a Man. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we cannot say that God does not care for men. He cares! More than we can ever understand it! Man must die a physical death. Jesus did not remove physical death! But Jesus offered us salvation, eternal life after death! That is why for the Christians, death has lost its sting and terror. Jesus will come again and resurrect our mortal bodies. This is His promise! But the unbelievers reject Christ. They go to hell. The God who commanded that all people in Jericho to be killed, is the same God who saved Rahab and her household, because she had faith in Him! The truth is that it was God who sent the two spies to Jericho to become evangelists and save Rahab. The God who killed all people during the flood, saved Noah and his family. The God who destroyed Sodom, saved Lot and his family. You see that God cares and saves those who believe! This is the truth! There is no need to argue. Just surrender your life to Christ!

War is a terrible thing. God does not like wars. God hates sin! Therefore, we can say that God hates death and wars! Concerning wars, this is what Jesus commanded the believers: “when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations” (Mk 13:7-10). We are living in these last days. Jesus is coming back. He said that wars, natural disasters, and troubles will come. Our first duty is to trust Him during our troubles and reject all fear. To live by faith and reject fear is our responsibility. The second duty is to continue to preach the Gospel to all people. Troubles should not shut our mouths. We should continue to study God’s Word, pray without ceasing, attend church services and serve God in any way we can. God rewards faithfulness especially during times of trials.

God always judges sin. He may not judge sin immediately. The sinner thinks he is safe to continue in his wickedness. But that is self-deception. Never envy the unbelievers! You should trust God, the Judge of all men! God may judge sin while the sinner is on earth. If not, God will judge all sin at the final judgment! God decided to save some sinners. These are saved by His grace. They believed in His Word and God saved them.

Jericho joined the group of cities that God cursed and destroyed. These cities are Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, Nineveh, Tyre, and Babylon. Jesus Himself cursed three cities near the Sea of Galilee for rejecting Him. These are Bethsaida, Korazim, and Capernaum.  You need to believe that God has the power to give and take life. God is sovereign in His decisions. Listen to God: “‘Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand” (Deut 32: 39). As you listen to God’s voice, you discover that idols are nothing. In God’s presence they are powerless to bless or to curse. God Almighty is the only True and Living God, the Omnipotent God. None can resist or oppose. God has no superior or equal. God blesses with life and prosperity. God also curses with suffering and death. God is the author of national revolutions and changing of governments. God manifests His presence thru mercy or thru judgment. No one can escape His power. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all evil. His grace is also revealed by blessing the humble and faithful. Jesus said: “For the Father judges no one but has committed all judgment to the Son” (Jn 5:22). Jesus Christ is the sovereign giver of life and death, of sickness and health, in a temporal sense, and in a spiritual sense. He wounds and kills, by His law and He heals and makes alive by His Gospel of Grace! Praise the Lord!

RAHAB’S SALVATION

Rahab’s salvation is a story of Grace! After she hid and saved the spies, she gathered her family in her house on the wall. She hid her faith from all the people of Jericho. But she exposed the red rope tied by her window. She was saved by her faith that produced results. In the midst of destruction and death, Rahab’s salvation shines like light in the darkness. Joshua remembered her at the hour of their victory. He told the same two spies, called here ‘young men’, to go to Rahab’s house and save her and her family. They carried them outside from that cursed city of sin and death. They were placed ‘outside the camp of Israel’ possibly for religious purification. She got married to a man called Samson. The Jewish tradition says that he was one of the two spies. Their son was Boaz, the husband of Ruth, and the grandfather of King David. They are in the genealogy of the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord!   

FAITH IS THE KEY TO VICTORY

Faith is defined as trust in God and in His Word. A believer trusts in God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and the Bible! The people of God had faith that the Promised Land is God’s gift to them. They inherited the land by faith in God’s Word. Joshua was the leader of the nation called Israel. He was a leader not just by name. He was a man of God, a man of faith! He had a serious responsibility given by God to led God’s people into the Promised Land. Leadership is not easy. Surely, Joshua was lonely. Almost all people around him were much younger. He did not have what you may call ‘close’ friends. Loneliness is the price to pay for successful leadership. May we sacrifice the flesh for Christ’ sake!

In the New Testament, we see a fresh revelation of Grace. In Hebrews 11 verse 29, the people of God passed thru the Red Sea. In the next verse, we are told that by faith, Jericho fell down. There is no mention of the 40 years of going in circles in the wilderness. Grace has wiped away their shame. Halleluiah! “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. 30- “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Heb 11:29-34).

The battle over Jericho was a war of faith, a war between the God of Israel and the idols of Jericho. Spiritually, we do not fight against men. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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” (Eph 6:11, 12). Jericho is a stronghold or spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The battle was not Joshua’s, but the battle belongs to God. In Christ we bring down spiritual strongholds, spiritual Jerichos. We arrest proud and foolish arguments against God. This leads to successful spiritual warfare and many souls get saved. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor 10:3-6). No unbeliever surrenders to Christ without spiritual warfare and intercession. It is our responsibility and privilege.

Knowing that the Commander of God’s armies goes before us in battle, we have faith that our victory is sure! Jericho represents the world. By faith in Christ alone we conquer our Jericho. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:3-5).

MIRACLES HAPPEN BY FAITH

The defeat and destruction of Jericho is a miracle. In the Bible, we find 126 miracles. A miracle is defined as a supernatural, surprising and welcoming event, that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws. It is done by God who in His sovereign will, intervenes in the human affairs. Miracles are all gifts of grace, but faith in God and His Word plays a major part. Jericho’s destruction is a miracle. Joshua and the people had faith in God’s Word. From hear we deduce some guidelines on how to receive a miracle by faith.

1-Surrender to God totally, yourself and your request for a miracle!

2-Stategy belongs to God. Fast, pray, and patiently wait for a word of wisdom from God. Continue to worship God.

3-Once God speaks, obey instantly, even if it looks foolish! Have faith in God and in His Word!

4-Remember God’s promise to you! Memorize His Word! Do not forget it! Keep focused! The sword of the heavenly Joshua is leading you!

5-Do not give up! Do not withdraw! Forward ever! Backward never! Praise God for the victory!

Worship the Lord!