Joshua
6:1-5 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I
have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You
shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus
shall you do for six days… On the
seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall
blow the trumpets. And when …all the people shall shout with a great shout, and
the wall of the city will fall down flat...”
The story of the fall of
Jericho is a drama remembering the mighty acts of God. This story is a paradigm
for those who seek victory for the nation and for its leader. The paradigm is
constructed of: a command given, the leader issues battle plans, the people
obey, the battle won, and a final warning for disobedience and promise for
obedience. A righteous victory for a nation and its people must follow this pattern
even today.
The story of the fall of the
walls of Jericho has entertained and instructed God’s people for generations.
Throughout this time there has always been one loud and clear message: God
fights for his people. As a result, the people of God have repeatedly testified
that what they possess comes from the hand of God, not their strength. Even
during the centuries of persecution Christians have consistently maintained the
captivating awe and mystery of this lesson.
Finally, this story
illustrates the fact that God fulfills his promises. Joshua, being obedient,
received the gift of the Promised Land and the presence of God in his daily
life. What God said he would do, He did.
We are reminded by this
story that as children of God we are to obey his written Word. Life plans are
to be laid out not by our wants but by God’s will. In diligently seeking his
will and faithfully trusting in his Word, we too, will be blessed in ways we
could never have imagined.
