By faith the walls of Jericho fellPRIVATE 

Joshua 5:1-6:27

Key Verse Hebrews 11:30

This passage teaches us symbolically how we can overcome the world and ensure that God's kingdom come in the hearts of many.

1. After crossing the Jordan River and before conquering the first fortified city Jericho in the Promised Land, the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again” (Joshua 5:2).  Why did the Lord issue such a strange command before an important battle? (Genesis 17:11)  Why was it not easy for Joshua to obey the command? (Genesis 34:25)  Yet, how did Joshua respond?  What spiritual lesson can we learn? (Romans 2:29; Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; John 3:5)

** It was to remind them of God's promise described in Genesis 12:2-3, so they would live by faith in the Lord's blessed promise. This promise is for all who walk in the footsteps of Abraham's faith. Ultimately this promise is for those who put trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 4:12

** In addition to technical difficulties such as the need to make a number of flint knives and the need to perform operations on all fighting men, it posed a great threat to the Israelites for it would render the army immobile for a while. 

** He obeyed without questioning. 

** 1) We must keep our hearts pure and free of any hint of sin by asking the Lord to cleanse our hearts. 

2) Otherwise the Lord cannot use us as instruments of his righteousness. 

2.  In Joshua 5:13, Joshua asked the man, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”  What does this question show us about Joshua?  The man replied, “Neither, but as the commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”  What does this reply indicate about the nature of the battle Joshua was facing?

** He might have thought that he was the man "in charge". He did not know that he was merely a "servant" of the Lord who was working with him.

** 1) It was neither Joshua's or the Israelites' own battle nor that of the people of Canaan (Jericho in the immediate case), but that of the Lord. 

2) The Lord God is in charge of the battle, and Joshua and all others within the camp are the Lord's instruments.

3) The expression "army of the Lord" indicates that in the invisible realm, the Lord has tons of angels fighting for him. 

Read 2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

3. The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.”  What does the word “holy” suggest about: 1) the purpose of the battle; and 2) our attitude in engaging ourselves in the battle?

** The battle is between two forces: the forces of holiness and the forces of desecration. The Lord then came to establish a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. His purpose is to build God's holy nation. The banner of the Lord's army reads then one word: Holiness. Holiness is the essence of all beauties that last forever. It is to root out every vestige of defilement built inside and outside of all fallen men, and transform each person to Jesus' likeness. 2Co 3:18.

** Sandals refer to worldly influences which work their way into our lives without ourselves even knowing it. The action "take off" is indicative of the need for the removal of every hint of worldly influence. This is because light and darkness cannot have fellowship together.

4.  Joshua 6:1 describes the stance the people of Jericho were taking. Why did they respond this way? (Joshua 5:1)  What assurance did the Lord give to Joshua in 6:2?  (John 16:33; Matthew 28:18-20) 

** They were afraid of facing God's people.

** Absolute victory. It is impossible for the Lord to lose in fighting the Lord's battle.

5.  Joshua 6:3-20 describes how the Israelites took the city.  What does the Bible teach us about the significance of the following:

1)  The command to march with all the armed men, particularly with the Reubenites and half tribe of Manasseh going at the front (Numbers 24:1-25; 32:1-32)

** The key to remember is the importance of spiritual morale. We need to encourage one another to fight for the Lord's kingdom purpose using all of our resources made available to us.

2) The command to encircle Jericho (6:18-19; Proverbs 5:22; Joshua 7:20-21)

** It is the command to identify our enemies/target. While the Red Sea can represent 

stumbling blocks in the natural world such as a visa problems or a language problems, Jericho can represent spiritual stumbling blocks, particularly men's organized efforts to resist the rule of God. The "walls" may refer to the un-biblical system of this world, its "king" may refer to the devil, its "fighting men" may refer to all of the devil's agents --  particularly people who operate as instruments of  wickedness. 

Essentially, however, Jericho refers to the defilement which is built inside of each person. It refers to every inclination of the thoughts of one's heart which resists the rule of God. 

3) The number six (as in "Do this for six days) and seven (as in seven priests, seven trumpets, seven encirclings, seven days etc.) (Hebrews 11:3; Genesis 1:1-31)

** Arguably it refers to the perfect God of perfect creation, the God who alone is praiseworthy. He alone is the only true benefactor. He alone is the ultimate giver, giving his creation every blessing which is good and perfect. 

The number seven then refers to God's perfection. 

It then refers to the time of our life as God gave it to us. During the period of our life time here on earth, we are to work for God's glory, with the hope to enter His rest after the work is completed. 

Since the Fall, however, the period of seven days represents the (complete) period assigned to every individual (both outside and inside of the Jericho walls) for each of them to hear the gospel, repent, and turn to Christ. 

4) Blowing trumpets of rams' horns (Genesis 22:13; Exodus 19:13; Leviticus 23:23-32)

** Arguably rams' horns have two meanings: 

First is the symbol of God's provision for those who put trust in the Lord as we see in Genesis 22. 

Second is the message of repentance for those who do not believe in the Lord, as envisaged in the blowing of the trumpets for ten days prior to the arrival of the Day of Atonement. 

Repentance, however, must be based on the word of God such as Moses' Ten Commandments. Exodus 19:13 indicates that for those who believe, the blast of the ram's horn refers to God's salvation, but for those who do not, it refers to God's judgment of them. Jericho's unbelief then resulted in their destruction which was timed to the long blast of the trumpet. To Rabab it signaled the time of salvation. 

5) The ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:21,22,34; 30:6)

** The key to remember is "There...I will meet with you." (Exodus 25:22; 29:42)

God's desire is to have fellowship with his children, but because of his holy character, unless certain conditions are met, it is impossible for fallen man to have  fellowship with him. 

1Jo 1:1-11 teaches us that Jesus made this fellowship possible, so that the conditions laid down there are the fulfillment of the symbolic messages which have been couched in the way in which the ark was designed.

Ark also refers to God's word. 

6) The command to keep quiet or shout in Joshua 6:10 (Psalm 5:2)

** We are not to fight with human words. We should not utter our words. Rather, we must learn to fight more through prayer than through human zeal. 

7) The command to spare Rahab and her family (Matthew 21:32)

It refers to the way of salvation, that is, by faith in the Lord.

8) The command devote material things to the Lord (1Ti 6:10)

** It teaches us the need for us to overcome materialism. We must seek God's kingdom and righteousness first, before seeking what is materialistic. 

The end. 

 

 

page \* arabic4

---